Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New York, NY
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 20 of 23 categories
New York
New York
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Plano
Texas
20
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.
New York, NY
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Median income trails Plano by $29,072/yr
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Plano, TX
Pros
Homes cost $320k less ($412,500 vs $732,100)
77% less violent crime than New York
Households earn $29,072 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$29,072
$105,679 vs $76,607/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
77% lower
151.6 vs 671.0 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$320k less
$412,500 vs $732,100
Plano
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $732,100⚠ High | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,714⚠ High | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,607 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.1 min⚠ High | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.3% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.5" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger | 284,948 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.9% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New York's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Plano is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 20 of 23 categories. New York wins 3 and Plano wins 20. 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 New York to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($732,100 vs $412,500 median home), income ($76,607 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New York, NY and Plano, TX are about 1,361 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.