City comparison
No. Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 31 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $2,014 in Frisco.
The income gap between Durham and Frisco is significant: $81,619 median household versus $150,212. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,508 in Durham and $2,014 in Frisco.
Frisco is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Durham makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Frisco is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Durham at $1,508 average has pockets that run $1,308 and others at $1,908: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Durham and Frisco are 1,037 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $2,014 a month in Frisco, up $506 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $150,212 in Frisco, up $68,593 (84%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 43 in Frisco, down 150 points (78%).
The move
Frisco and Durham are 1,037 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,014 a month in Frisco to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $506 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $150,212 in Frisco to $81,619 in Durham, down $68,593 (46%).
The crime index goes from 43 in Frisco to 193 in Durham, up 150 points (349%).
Durham, NC
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 Durham and Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Durham rent is 25% cheaper than Frisco
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Frisco
$2,014/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $2,014 in Frisco, so Durham is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $506/month back in your pocket ($6,072/year). Over five years that's $30,360 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, Durham 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
84% higher
Frisco's median income is 84% higher than Durham
Durham
$81,619
Frisco
Winner$150,212
Median household income is $150,212 in Frisco versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 84% higher in Frisco (about $68,593 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. Durham can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
78% lower crime
Frisco's crime index is 78% lower than Durham
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Frisco
Winner43 (100 = avg)
Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 78% 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. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Frisco weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Frisco
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Frisco averages about 68°F (76°F highs). Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Frisco sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Frisco scores 20% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Durham if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Durham
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% cheaper here at about $1,508 a month. Choose Durham 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 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 84% higher ($150,212), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Frisco is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 78% lower than Durham (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 40/100 in Durham). Typical rent is $2,014 in Frisco and $1,508 in Durham; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Durham rent at $1,508/month is still below Frisco's $2,014, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,508 in Durham and $2,014 in Frisco.
Between Durham and Frisco, Frisco is ahead on safety — 86/100 safety versus 40/100. Lean Durham instead when you already know the Durham block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Durham and Frisco, plus other cities in NC and TX.
