Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Plano leads 16 of 23 categories
Plano
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $41,635 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($324,800 vs $412,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 56°F
Rent averages $85/mo less ($1,614 vs $1,699)
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $41,635/yr
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$41,635
$105,679 vs $64,044/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
74% lower
151.6 vs 575.8 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.0°F
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$88k less
$324,800 vs $412,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 38.9 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Plano is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 16 of 23 categories. Plano wins 16 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $324,800 median home), income ($105,679 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,085 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.