City comparison
No. Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 31 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Albuquerque is cheaper. Median rent is $1,145 a month versus $2,014 in Frisco.
The income gap between Albuquerque and Frisco is significant: $68,317 median household versus $150,212. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,145 in Albuquerque and $2,014 in Frisco.
This is a genuine split. Albuquerque wins on cost of living and Frisco wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Albuquerque at $1,145 average has pockets that run $945 and others at $1,545: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Albuquerque and Frisco are 578 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $2,014 a month in Frisco, up $869 a month (76%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $150,212 in Frisco, up $81,895 (120%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 43 in Frisco, down 250 points (85%).
The move
Frisco and Albuquerque are 578 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,014 a month in Frisco to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, down $869 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $150,212 in Frisco to $68,317 in Albuquerque, down $81,895 (55%).
The crime index goes from 43 in Frisco to 293 in Albuquerque, up 250 points (581%).
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Frisco, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Albuquerque and Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
43% cheaper
Albuquerque rent is 43% cheaper than Frisco
Albuquerque
Winner$1,145/mo
Frisco
$2,014/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Albuquerque versus $2,014 in Frisco, so Albuquerque is 43% cheaper. That's roughly $869/month back in your pocket ($10,428/year). Over five years that's $52,140 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Frisco, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Albuquerque is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
120% higher
Frisco's median income is 120% higher than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
$68,317
Frisco
Winner$150,212
Median household income is $150,212 in Frisco versus $68,317 in Albuquerque, so typical pay runs 120% higher in Frisco (about $81,895 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, Frisco is the stronger labor market on paper. Albuquerque can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
85% lower crime
Frisco's crime index is 85% lower than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Frisco
Winner43 (100 = avg)
Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 85% lower in Frisco. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Frisco is the easier city. Albuquerque can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Albuquerque and Frisco are about even on typical weather.
Albuquerque
65°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Frisco
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Albuquerque averages about 65°F (72°F highs); Frisco averages about 68°F (76°F highs). Albuquerque sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Frisco sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Albuquerque
Albuquerque is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 43% cheaper here at about $1,145 a month. Choose Albuquerque if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Frisco is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 120% higher here ($150,212). Start with Frisco if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Frisco is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 85% lower than Albuquerque (43 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Albuquerque carries the heavier crime signal on this page (27/100 safety vs 86/100 in Frisco). That 59-point spread matters more than the $869 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Albuquerque rent at $1,145/month is still below Frisco's $2,014, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,145 in Albuquerque and $2,014 in Frisco.
Pick Frisco when you want the stronger safety signal (86/100). Otherwise, Albuquerque's case rests on a Albuquerque ZIP you trust at $1,145 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Frisco when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Albuquerque and Frisco, plus other cities in NM and TX.
