Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 13 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Plano
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
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.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $377/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,699)
Homes cost $72k less ($340,200 vs $412,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 56°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $33,587/yr
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Plano, TX
Pros
81% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $33,587 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 0.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 104°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Phoenix
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$72k less
$340,200 vs $412,500
Phoenix
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 94.3°F
Plano
Median Income
$33,587
$105,679 vs $72,092/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
81% lower
151.6 vs 799.6 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 284,948 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 13 of 23 categories. Phoenix wins 10 and Plano wins 13. 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 Phoenix to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $412,500 median home), income ($72,092 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and Plano, TX are about 886 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.