Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Frisco, TX
🏆 Frisco leads 17 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Frisco
Texas
17
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.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Homes cost $219k less ($312,800 vs $531,400)
Rent averages $404/mo less ($1,399 vs $1,803)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Frisco
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $70,497/yr
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.9%)
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $70,497 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Charlotte
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 65.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.9%)
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Charlotte
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Median Home Value
$219k less
$312,800 vs $531,400
Frisco
Median Income
$70,497
$144,567 vs $74,070/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
86% lower
100.9 vs 733.2 per 100k
Frisco
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.7% unemployment
Frisco
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Frisco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $531,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,803⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 | $144,567 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% | 29.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 96.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | FRISCO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 42.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 202,075 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 67.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 28.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Frisco's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 17 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 6 and Frisco wins 17. 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 Charlotte to Frisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $531,400 median home), income ($74,070 vs $144,567), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Frisco, TX are about 924 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.