City comparison
No. Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 31 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Austin is cheaper. Median rent is $1,729 a month versus $2,014 in Frisco.
Safety is where Austin and Frisco split most clearly. Frisco scores 119 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $2,014 in Frisco.
This is a genuine split. Austin 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 crime gap is citywide. Frisco has rougher pockets and Austin has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Austin and Frisco are 206 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $2,014 a month in Frisco, up $285 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $150,212 in Frisco, up $56,554 (60%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 43 in Frisco, down 119 points (73%).
The move
Frisco and Austin are 206 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,014 a month in Frisco to $1,729 a month in Austin, down $285 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $150,212 in Frisco to $93,658 in Austin, down $56,554 (38%).
The crime index goes from 43 in Frisco to 162 in Austin, up 119 points (277%).
Austin, TX
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 Austin and Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Austin rent is 14% cheaper than Frisco
Austin
Winner$1,729/mo
Frisco
$2,014/mo
Typical rent runs $1,729 a month in Austin versus $2,014 in Frisco, so Austin is 14% 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 $3,420, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Austin still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Frisco.
Planning to buy in Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
60% higher
Frisco's median income is 60% higher than Austin
Austin
$93,658
Frisco
Winner$150,212
Median household income is $150,212 in Frisco versus $93,658 in Austin, so typical pay runs 60% higher in Frisco (about $56,554 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. Austin can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
73% lower crime
Frisco's crime index is 73% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Frisco
Winner43 (100 = avg)
Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 73% 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. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Austin and Frisco are about even on typical weather.
Austin
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Frisco
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Frisco averages about 68°F (76°F highs). Austin sits near 68°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 Austin
Austin is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,729 a month. Choose Austin 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 60% 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 73% lower than Austin (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Frisco leads on safety (86/100 vs 45/100 in Austin). Typical rent is $2,014 in Frisco and $1,729 in Austin; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Austin rent at $1,729/month is still below Frisco's $2,014, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,729 in Austin and $2,014 in Frisco.
Between Austin and Frisco, Frisco is ahead on safety — 86/100 safety versus 45/100. Lean Austin instead when you already know the Austin block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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 Austin and Frisco, plus other cities in TX.
