City comparison
No. Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 108 in Mesa, and its violent crime index is 31 versus 131, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Mesa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,620 a month versus $2,014 in Frisco.
The income gap between Mesa and Frisco is significant: $82,752 median household versus $150,212. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,620 in Mesa and $2,014 in Frisco.
This is a genuine split. Mesa 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. Mesa at $1,620 average has pockets that run $1,420 and others at $2,020: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Mesa and Frisco are 866 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,620 a month in Mesa to $2,014 a month in Frisco, up $394 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $82,752 in Mesa to $150,212 in Frisco, up $67,460 (82%).
The crime index goes from 108 in Mesa to 43 in Frisco, down 65 points (60%).
The move
Frisco and Mesa are 866 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,014 a month in Frisco to $1,620 a month in Mesa, down $394 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $150,212 in Frisco to $82,752 in Mesa, down $67,460 (45%).
The crime index goes from 43 in Frisco to 108 in Mesa, up 65 points (151%).
Mesa, AZ
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 Mesa and Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Mesa rent is 20% cheaper than Frisco
Mesa
Winner$1,620/mo
Frisco
$2,014/mo
Typical rent runs $1,620 a month in Mesa versus $2,014 in Frisco, so Mesa is 20% 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 $4,728, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Mesa 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
82% higher
Frisco's median income is 82% higher than Mesa
Mesa
$82,752
Frisco
Winner$150,212
Median household income is $150,212 in Frisco versus $82,752 in Mesa, so typical pay runs 82% higher in Frisco (about $67,460 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. Mesa can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
60% lower crime
Frisco's crime index is 60% lower than Mesa
Mesa
108 (100 = avg)
Frisco
Winner43 (100 = avg)
Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 108 in Mesa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 60% 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. Mesa can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Mesa and Frisco are about even on typical weather.
Mesa
79°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Frisco
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mesa averages about 79°F (87°F highs); Frisco averages about 68°F (76°F highs). Mesa sits near 79°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 Mesa
Mesa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,620 a month. Choose Mesa 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 82% 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 60% lower than Mesa (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
Mesa carries the heavier crime signal on this page (58/100 safety vs 86/100 in Frisco). That 28-point spread matters more than the $394 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Mesa rent at $1,620/month is still below Frisco's $2,014, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,620 in Mesa and $2,014 in Frisco.
Pick Frisco when you want the stronger safety signal (86/100). Otherwise, Mesa's case rests on a Mesa ZIP you trust at $1,620 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 Mesa and Frisco, plus other cities in AZ and TX.
