Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Plano leads 17 of 23 categories
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 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Plano, TX
Pros
76% less violent crime than Rialto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $24,929 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Rialto, CA
Pros
Rent averages $146/mo less ($1,553 vs $1,699)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 56°F
Cons
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Plano by $24,929/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$24,929
$105,679 vs $80,750/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
76% lower
151.6 vs 641.7 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $418,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High | $1,553⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 ✓ Higher | $80,750 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 94.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 38.9 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Plano is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 17 of 23 categories. Plano wins 17 and Rialto 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $418,300 median home), income ($105,679 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Rialto, CA are about 1,188 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.