Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Plano leads 19 of 23 categories
Plano
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Stamford
Connecticut
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
135,413
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Plano, TX
Pros
Homes cost $172k less ($412,500 vs $584,700)
Rent averages $430/mo less ($1,699 vs $2,129)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Stamford, CT
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.4%)
Median income trails Plano by $4,961/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$4,961
$105,679 vs $100,718/yr
Plano
Median Home Value
$172k less
$412,500 vs $584,700
Plano
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 ✓ Higher | $100,718 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 41 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | A (120) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% ✓ Higher | 50.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 ✓ Larger | 135,413 |
| Median Age | 38.9 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Plano is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 19 of 23 categories. Plano wins 19 and Stamford wins 4. 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $584,700 median home), income ($105,679 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Stamford, CT are about 1,389 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.