Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Macon-Bibb County, GA
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 15 of 23 categories
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554
Plano
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
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.
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $257k less ($155,200 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $732/mo less ($967 vs $1,699)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $56,782/yr
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.4%)
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $56,782 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Key Differences at a Glance
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$257k less
$155,200 vs $412,500
Plano
Median Income
$56,782
$105,679 vs $48,897/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
90% lower
151.6 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County, GA | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,200 ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $967 ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,897 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 309⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 394⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.9% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bibb County | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,554 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Macon-Bibb County's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 15 of 23 categories. Macon-Bibb County wins 8 and Plano wins 15. 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 Macon-Bibb County to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,200 vs $412,500 median home), income ($48,897 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Macon-Bibb County, GA and Plano, TX are about 757 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.