Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Plano leads 13 of 23 categories
Plano
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Plano, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1242k less ($412,500 vs $1,654,800)
81% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Rent averages $528/mo less ($1,699 vs $2,227)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.4%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Violent Crime
81% lower
151.6 vs 778.0 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$1242k less
$412,500 vs $1,654,800
Plano
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
24.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$1,118
$106,797 vs $105,679/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 38.9 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Plano is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 13 of 23 categories. Plano wins 13 and Santa Monica wins 10. 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($105,679 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Santa Monica, CA are about 1,252 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.