Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Frisco, TX
🏆 Frisco leads 13 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Frisco
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $285k less ($246,000 vs $531,400)
Rent averages $789/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,803)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Frisco
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $83,064/yr
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.9%)
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $83,064 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Albuquerque
More college-educated — 65.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.9%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Albuquerque
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$285k less
$246,000 vs $531,400
Frisco
Median Income
$83,064
$144,567 vs $61,503/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
91% lower
100.9 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Frisco
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Frisco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $531,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,803⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $144,567 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 29.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 96.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | FRISCO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 42.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 202,075 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 37.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 67.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 28.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Frisco's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 13 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 10 and Frisco wins 13. 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 Albuquerque to Frisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $531,400 median home), income ($61,503 vs $144,567), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Frisco, TX are about 578 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.