City comparison
No. Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 157 in San Jose, and its violent crime index is 31 versus 161, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Frisco is cheaper. Median rent is $2,014 a month versus $2,669 in San Jose.
Safety is where San Jose and Frisco split most clearly. Frisco scores 114 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,669 in San Jose and $2,014 in Frisco.
Frisco is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. San Jose 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. Frisco at $2,014 average has pockets that run $1,814 and others at $2,414: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Jose and Frisco are 1,440 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,669 a month in San Jose to $2,014 a month in Frisco, down $655 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $146,427 in San Jose to $150,212 in Frisco, up $3,785 (3%).
The crime index goes from 157 in San Jose to 43 in Frisco, down 114 points (73%).
The move
Frisco and San Jose are 1,440 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,014 a month in Frisco to $2,669 a month in San Jose, up $655 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $150,212 in Frisco to $146,427 in San Jose, down $3,785 (3%).
The crime index goes from 43 in Frisco to 157 in San Jose, up 114 points (265%).
San Jose, 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 San Jose and Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Frisco rent is 25% cheaper than San Jose
San Jose
$2,669/mo
Frisco
Winner$2,014/mo
Typical rent runs $2,014 a month in Frisco versus $2,669 in San Jose, so Frisco is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $655/month back in your pocket ($7,860/year). Over five years that's $39,300 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 San Jose, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Frisco 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
3% higher
Frisco's median income is 3% higher than San Jose
San Jose
$146,427
Frisco
Winner$150,212
Median household income is $150,212 in Frisco versus $146,427 in San Jose, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Frisco (about $3,785 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
73% lower crime
Frisco's crime index is 73% lower than San Jose
San Jose
157 (100 = avg)
Frisco
Winner43 (100 = avg)
Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 157 in San Jose (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 73% 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. San Jose can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
San Jose and Frisco are about even on typical weather.
San Jose
69°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Frisco
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Jose averages about 69°F (80°F highs); Frisco averages about 68°F (76°F highs). San Jose sits near 69°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 San Jose
On these five categories Frisco takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose San Jose because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose San Jose only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Frisco is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% cheaper here at about $2,014 a month. Choose Frisco if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Frisco is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 3% 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 73% lower than San Jose (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 46/100 in San Jose). Typical rent is $2,014 in Frisco and $2,669 in San Jose; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (86/100 in Frisco vs 46/100 in San Jose), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $150,212 in Frisco versus $146,427 in San Jose.
Frisco is ahead on safety (86/100 vs 46/100); San Jose is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $2,669/month rent plus $146,427 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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