Is Arlington cheaper than Plano?

Yes. Typical rent in Arlington is $1,723 a month versus $1,931 in Plano — 11% cheaper. Median household income is $71,736 in Arlington compared with $105,679 in Plano, so Plano has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Arlington or Plano?

Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 109 in Arlington and 109 in Plano (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.

Which city has better schools, Arlington or Plano?

School composites are close: A- in Arlington and A- in Plano. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Arlington, TX vs Plano, TX

Arlington, TX versus Plano, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,723 a month in Arlington and $1,931 in Plano, and median household income lands at $71,736 versus $105,679. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Arlington takes affordability, while Plano takes job market and weather. The widest gap is median income, where Plano leads by 47% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Arlington can feel further apart than Arlington and Plano do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Arlington and Plano reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Arlington report Full Plano report

Arlington, TX

Rent: $1,723/mo
Median income: $71,736
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 92°F

Plano, TX

Rent: $1,931/mo
Median income: $105,679
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 91°F

Rent

11% cheaper

Arlington rent is 11% cheaper than Plano

Arlington

Winner

$1,723/mo

Plano

$1,931/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,723 a month in Arlington versus $1,931 in Plano, so Arlington is 11% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,496 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Arlington still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Plano.

Median income

47% higher

Plano's median income is 47% higher than Arlington

Arlington

$71,736

Plano

Winner

$105,679

What this means for your life

Median household income is $105,679 in Plano versus $71,736 in Arlington, so typical pay runs 47% higher in Plano — about $33,943 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Plano is the stronger labor market on paper. Arlington can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

Neck and neck

Arlington and Plano are about even on crime index.

Arlington

109 (100 = avg)

Plano

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Arlington and Plano post similar crime indexes (109 vs 109, where 100 is the national average). A small gap at the city level can still hide a huge neighborhood spread. Walk the specific block, check lighting and late-night activity, and use each city's full report for violent vs. property crime instead of stopping at the headline index.

School scores

Neck and neck

Arlington and Plano are about even on school scores.

Arlington

A- · 84/100

Plano

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Arlington, A- in Plano). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

7% more comfortable

Plano weather is 7% more comfortable than Arlington

Arlington

92°F typical

Plano

Winner

91°F typical

What this means for your life

Plano scores 7% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 92°F in Arlington and 91°F in Plano. Arlington reads as hot, long summers; Plano reads as hot, long summers. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Arlington's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Plano is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Arlington

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Arlington

Arlington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,723 a month. Choose Arlington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Open the Arlington report →

Fit check

Who should choose Plano

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 47% higher ($105,679), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 91°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Plano report →

Bottom line

Arlington vs Plano, called

If the job market is your priority, Plano is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Arlington pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Plano offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Arlington vs Plano FAQ

Is Arlington cheaper than Plano?: Yes. Typical rent in Arlington is $1,723 a month versus $1,931 in Plano — 11% cheaper. Median household income is $71,736 in Arlington compared with $105,679 in Plano, so Plano has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Arlington or Plano?: Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 109 in Arlington and 109 in Plano (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.
Which city has better schools, Arlington or Plano?: School composites are close: A- in Arlington and A- in Plano. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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