City comparison
No. Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 62 in Plano, and its violent crime index is 31 versus 43, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Plano is cheaper. Median rent is $1,841 a month versus $2,014 in Frisco.
The income gap between Plano and Frisco is significant: $112,253 median household versus $150,212. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,841 in Plano and $2,014 in Frisco.
This is a genuine split. Plano 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 Plano has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Plano and Frisco are 12 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $2,014 a month in Frisco, up $173 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $150,212 in Frisco, up $37,959 (34%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 43 in Frisco, down 19 points (31%).
The move
Frisco and Plano are 12 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,014 a month in Frisco to $1,841 a month in Plano, down $173 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $150,212 in Frisco to $112,253 in Plano, down $37,959 (25%).
The crime index goes from 43 in Frisco to 62 in Plano, up 19 points (44%).
Plano, 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 Plano and Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Plano rent is 9% cheaper than Frisco
Plano
Winner$1,841/mo
Frisco
$2,014/mo
Typical rent runs $1,841 a month in Plano versus $2,014 in Frisco, so Plano is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $173, or $2,076 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
34% higher
Frisco's median income is 34% higher than Plano
Plano
$112,253
Frisco
Winner$150,212
Median household income is $150,212 in Frisco versus $112,253 in Plano, so typical pay runs 34% higher in Frisco (about $37,959 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. Plano can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
31% lower crime
Frisco's crime index is 31% lower than Plano
Plano
62 (100 = avg)
Frisco
Winner43 (100 = avg)
Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 62 in Plano (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% 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. Plano can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Plano and Frisco are about even on typical weather.
Plano
65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Frisco
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Frisco averages about 68°F (76°F highs). Plano sits near 65°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 Plano
Plano is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% cheaper here at about $1,841 a month. Choose Plano 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 34% 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 31% lower than Plano (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 75/100 in Plano). Typical rent is $2,014 in Frisco and $1,841 in Plano; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Plano rent at $1,841/month is still below Frisco's $2,014, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,841 in Plano and $2,014 in Frisco.
Frisco is ahead on safety (86/100 vs 75/100); Plano is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,841/month rent plus $112,253 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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