Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CA
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 18 of 23 categories
Norwalk
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
101,893
Plano
Texas
18
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.
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Plano by $14,420/yr
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Plano
Plano, TX
Pros
60% less violent crime than Norwalk
Homes cost $181k less ($412,500 vs $593,100)
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 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $14,420 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$14,420
$105,679 vs $91,259/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
60% lower
151.6 vs 374.4 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$181k less
$412,500 vs $593,100
Plano
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CA | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,100⚠ High | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,860⚠ High | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,259 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.8:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.8% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,893 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.6% ✓ Higher | 56.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Plano is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 18 of 23 categories. Norwalk wins 5 and Plano wins 18. 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 Norwalk to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,100 vs $412,500 median home), income ($91,259 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CA and Plano, TX are about 1,229 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.