Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Plano leads 16 of 22 categories
Plano
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $48,525 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Portsmouth
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $199k less ($213,300 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $474/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,699)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $48,525/yr
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Median Income
$48,525
$105,679 vs $57,154/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
80% lower
151.6 vs 752.4 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$199k less
$213,300 vs $412,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 38.9 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Plano leads 16 of 22 categories. Plano wins 16 and Portsmouth wins 6. 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 Plano to Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $213,300 median home), income ($105,679 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Portsmouth, VA are about 1,182 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.