Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Frisco, TX
🏆 Frisco leads 17 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $301k less ($230,500 vs $531,400)
Rent averages $737/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,803)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Frisco
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $86,864/yr
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 3.9%)
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $86,864 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Chattanooga
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 1.2 pts lower (3.9%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Chattanooga
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$301k less
$230,500 vs $531,400
Frisco
Median Income
$86,864
$144,567 vs $57,703/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
88% lower
100.9 vs 823.7 per 100k
Frisco
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.1% unemployment
Frisco
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Frisco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $531,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,803⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $144,567 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 29.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 96.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | FRISCO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 42.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 202,075 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 67.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 28.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Frisco's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Frisco leads 17 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 5 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 Chattanooga to Frisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $531,400 median home), income ($57,703 vs $144,567), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Frisco, TX are about 675 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.