Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 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
Washington
District of Columbia
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Plano, TX
Pros
Homes cost $293k less ($412,500 vs $705,000)
84% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Washington, DC
Pros
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$3,957
$105,679 vs $101,722/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
84% lower
151.6 vs 925.9 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$293k less
$412,500 vs $705,000
Plano
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.1% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 89.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 ✓ Higher | $101,722 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | A (119) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 92.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.9 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Plano is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 19 of 23 categories. Plano wins 19 and Washington 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $705,000 median home), income ($105,679 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Washington, DC are about 1,172 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.