City comparison
No. Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 31 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Oakland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,979 a month versus $2,014 in Frisco.
Safety is where Oakland and Frisco split most clearly. Frisco scores 391 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,979 in Oakland and $2,014 in Frisco.
This is a genuine split. Oakland 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 Oakland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oakland and Frisco are 1,463 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $2,014 a month in Frisco, up $35 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $150,212 in Frisco, up $48,612 (48%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 43 in Frisco, down 391 points (90%).
The move
Frisco and Oakland are 1,463 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,014 a month in Frisco to $1,979 a month in Oakland, down $35 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $150,212 in Frisco to $101,600 in Oakland, down $48,612 (32%).
The crime index goes from 43 in Frisco to 434 in Oakland, up 391 points (909%).
Oakland, CA
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 Oakland and Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Oakland rent is 2% cheaper than Frisco
Oakland
Winner$1,979/mo
Frisco
$2,014/mo
Typical rent runs $1,979 a month in Oakland versus $2,014 in Frisco, so Oakland is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $35, or $420 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
48% higher
Frisco's median income is 48% higher than Oakland
Oakland
$101,600
Frisco
Winner$150,212
Median household income is $150,212 in Frisco versus $101,600 in Oakland, so typical pay runs 48% higher in Frisco (about $48,612 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. Oakland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
90% lower crime
Frisco's crime index is 90% lower than Oakland
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Frisco
Winner43 (100 = avg)
Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 90% 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. Oakland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Oakland and Frisco are about even on typical weather.
Oakland
68°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Frisco
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oakland averages about 68°F (80°F highs); Frisco averages about 68°F (76°F highs). Oakland 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 Oakland
Oakland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,979 a month. Choose Oakland 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 48% 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 90% lower than Oakland (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 15/100 in Oakland). Typical rent is $2,014 in Frisco and $1,979 in Oakland; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Oakland rent at $1,979/month is still below Frisco's $2,014, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,979 in Oakland and $2,014 in Frisco.
Between Oakland and Frisco, Frisco is ahead on safety — 86/100 safety versus 15/100. Lean Oakland instead when you already know the Oakland 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 Oakland and Frisco, plus other cities in CA and TX.
