Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Frisco, TX
🏆 Frisco leads 18 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
Frisco
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Rent averages $198/mo less ($1,605 vs $1,803)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $84,638/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Frisco
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $84,638 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than El Monte
More college-educated — 65.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Frisco
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Frisco
Median Income
$84,638
$144,567 vs $59,929/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
76% lower
100.9 vs 423.2 per 100k
Frisco
Median Home Value
$66k less
$531,400 vs $597,200
Frisco
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.0% unemployment
Frisco
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Frisco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $531,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,803⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $144,567 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 29.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 96.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | FRISCO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 42.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 202,075 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 67.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 28.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Frisco's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Frisco is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 18 of 23 categories. El Monte wins 5 and Frisco wins 18. 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 El Monte to Frisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $531,400 median home), income ($59,929 vs $144,567), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Frisco, TX are about 1,220 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.