Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lynn, MA
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 19 of 23 categories
Lynn
Massachusetts
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653
Plano
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lynn, MA
Pros
Rent averages $188/mo less ($1,511 vs $1,699)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $35,633/yr
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.4%)
Plano, TX
Pros
74% less violent crime than Lynn
Households earn $35,633 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$35,633
$105,679 vs $70,046/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
74% lower
151.6 vs 574.6 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$30k less
$412,500 vs $442,800
Plano
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lynn, MA | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $442,800⚠ High | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,511⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,046 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 113⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.9% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.2% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lynn | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.1°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.1" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,653 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.2 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.6% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lynn's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Plano is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 19 of 23 categories. Lynn wins 4 and Plano wins 19. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Lynn to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($442,800 vs $412,500 median home), income ($70,046 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lynn, MA and Plano, TX are about 1,544 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.