Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Plano leads 16 of 23 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
Salem
Oregon
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Plano, TX
Pros
72% less violent crime than Salem
Households earn $38,139 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 1.7 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $475/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,699)
Homes cost $63k less ($349,500 vs $412,500)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $38,139/yr
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Median Income
$38,139
$105,679 vs $67,540/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
72% lower
151.6 vs 532.2 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$63k less
$349,500 vs $412,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 38.9 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 16 of 23 categories. Plano wins 16 and Salem wins 7. 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $349,500 median home), income ($105,679 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Salem, OR are about 1,621 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.