City comparison
No. Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 31 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $2,014 in Frisco.
The income gap between Houston and Frisco is significant: $64,813 median household versus $150,212. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,361 in Houston and $2,014 in Frisco.
This is a genuine split. Houston 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. Houston at $1,361 average has pockets that run $1,161 and others at $1,761: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Houston and Frisco are 249 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $2,014 a month in Frisco, up $653 a month (48%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $150,212 in Frisco, up $85,399 (132%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 43 in Frisco, down 227 points (84%).
The move
Frisco and Houston are 249 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,014 a month in Frisco to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $653 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $150,212 in Frisco to $64,813 in Houston, down $85,399 (57%).
The crime index goes from 43 in Frisco to 270 in Houston, up 227 points (528%).
Houston, 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 Houston and Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
Houston rent is 32% cheaper than Frisco
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Frisco
$2,014/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $2,014 in Frisco, so Houston is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $653/month back in your pocket ($7,836/year). Over five years that's $39,180 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, Houston 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
132% higher
Frisco's median income is 132% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Frisco
Winner$150,212
Median household income is $150,212 in Frisco versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 132% higher in Frisco (about $85,399 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. Houston can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
84% lower crime
Frisco's crime index is 84% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Frisco
Winner43 (100 = avg)
Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 84% 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. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Houston and Frisco are about even on typical weather.
Houston
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Frisco
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Frisco averages about 68°F (76°F highs). Houston sits near 70°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 Houston
Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 32% cheaper here at about $1,361 a month. Choose Houston 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 132% 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 84% lower than Houston (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
Safety is the widest gap: Frisco scores 86/100 versus 30/100 in Houston. Rent is $2,014/month in Frisco and $1,361/month in Houston, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Houston rent at $1,361/month is still below Frisco's $2,014, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,361 in Houston and $2,014 in Frisco.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Frisco; Houston only makes sense when you have walked the Houston ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,361 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 Houston and Frisco, plus other cities in TX.
