City comparison
No. Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 93 in Tampa, and its violent crime index is 31 versus 112, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tampa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,701 a month versus $2,014 in Frisco.
The income gap between Tampa and Frisco is significant: $75,475 median household versus $150,212. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,701 in Tampa and $2,014 in Frisco.
This is a genuine split. Tampa 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. Tampa at $1,701 average has pockets that run $1,501 and others at $2,101: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Tampa and Frisco are 926 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $2,014 a month in Frisco, up $313 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $150,212 in Frisco, up $74,737 (99%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 43 in Frisco, down 50 points (54%).
The move
Frisco and Tampa are 926 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,014 a month in Frisco to $1,701 a month in Tampa, down $313 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $150,212 in Frisco to $75,475 in Tampa, down $74,737 (50%).
The crime index goes from 43 in Frisco to 93 in Tampa, up 50 points (116%).
Tampa, FL
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 Tampa and Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Tampa rent is 16% cheaper than Frisco
Tampa
Winner$1,701/mo
Frisco
$2,014/mo
Typical rent runs $1,701 a month in Tampa versus $2,014 in Frisco, so Tampa is 16% 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 $3,756, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Tampa 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
99% higher
Frisco's median income is 99% higher than Tampa
Tampa
$75,475
Frisco
Winner$150,212
Median household income is $150,212 in Frisco versus $75,475 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 99% higher in Frisco (about $74,737 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. Tampa can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
54% lower crime
Frisco's crime index is 54% lower than Tampa
Tampa
93 (100 = avg)
Frisco
Winner43 (100 = avg)
Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 93 in Tampa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 54% 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. Tampa can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Tampa and Frisco are about even on typical weather.
Tampa
75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Frisco
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs); Frisco averages about 68°F (76°F highs). Tampa sits near 75°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 Tampa
Tampa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,701 a month. Choose Tampa 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 99% 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 54% lower than Tampa (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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Frisco at $150,212 median income versus $75,475 in Tampa. Housing ($1,701 in Tampa, $2,014 in Frisco) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Frisco still pays more locally ($150,212 median income vs $75,475), which can offset the lease if your field pays Frisco rates.
Typical rent stays $1,701 in Tampa and $2,014 in Frisco.
If local pay drives your move, Frisco is the stronger match ($150,212 median income against $75,475). If an employer or family tie already points to Tampa, treat $1,701/month rent and $75,475 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tampa and Frisco, plus other cities in FL and TX.
