Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Frisco, TX
🏆 Frisco leads 14 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Frisco
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $370k less ($161,800 vs $531,400)
Rent averages $743/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,803)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (2.8%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Frisco
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $85,313/yr
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $85,313 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Abilene
More college-educated — 65.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Abilene
Higher unemployment (3.9% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$370k less
$161,800 vs $531,400
Abilene
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
2.8% vs 3.9% unemployment
Frisco
Median Income
$85,313
$144,567 vs $59,254/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
76% lower
100.9 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Frisco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $531,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,803⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $144,567 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 29.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 96.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | FRISCO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 42.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 202,075 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 67.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 28.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Frisco's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 14 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 9 and Frisco wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Frisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $531,400 median home), income ($59,254 vs $144,567), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Frisco, TX are about 176 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.