Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami, FL
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 17 of 23 categories
Miami
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,858
Violent Crime Index
125⚠ High
Population
443,665 ✓ Larger
Plano
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami, FL
Pros
Rent averages $205/mo less ($1,494 vs $1,699)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $50,821/yr
Violent crime (473.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2995.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $50,821 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Miami
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.4%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$50,821
$105,679 vs $54,858/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
68% lower
151.6 vs 473.3 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$21k less
$412,500 vs $433,900
Plano
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 87.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami, FL | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $433,900⚠ High | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,494⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,858 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.2 min⚠ High | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 132⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 143⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.8% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.6°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.2" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 443,665 ✓ Larger | 284,948 |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 38.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 30.1% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Plano is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 17 of 23 categories. Miami wins 6 and Plano wins 17. 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 Miami to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($433,900 vs $412,500 median home), income ($54,858 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami, FL and Plano, TX are about 1,113 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.