Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Plano leads 14 of 23 categories
Plano
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Plano, TX
Pros
68% less violent crime than Tempe
Households earn $33,657 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 106°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $227/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,699)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 56°F
Homes cost $30k less ($382,100 vs $412,500)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $33,657/yr
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Median Income
$33,657
$105,679 vs $72,022/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
68% lower
151.6 vs 470.3 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Home Value
$30k less
$382,100 vs $412,500
Tempe
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 94.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | A (125) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 38.9 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 14 of 23 categories. Plano wins 14 and Tempe wins 9. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $382,100 median home), income ($105,679 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Tempe, AZ are about 877 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.