Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Frisco, TX
VS
Grand Rapids, MI
🏆 Frisco leads 17 of 23 categories
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
Grand Rapids
Michigan
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,634
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $82,933 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
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 1.7 pts lower (3.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Grand Rapids
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Homes cost $328k less ($203,900 vs $531,400)
Rent averages $665/mo less ($1,138 vs $1,803)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Frisco
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $82,933/yr
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Frisco
Median Income
$82,933
$144,567 vs $61,634/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
89% lower
100.9 vs 910.1 per 100k
Frisco
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.6% unemployment
Frisco
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 82.4°F
Grand Rapids
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Grand Rapids
Median Home Value
$328k less
$203,900 vs $531,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Frisco, TX | Grand Rapids, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $531,400⚠ High | $203,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,803⚠ High | $1,138 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $144,567 ✓ Higher | $61,634 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 29.5% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 35 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 240⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.5% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FRISCO ISD | Grand Rapids Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 30.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.1" | 39.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 74.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,075 ✓ Larger | 198,096 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.2% ✓ Higher | 54.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Frisco's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Grand Rapids's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Grand Rapids is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 17 of 23 categories. Frisco wins 17 and Grand Rapids wins 6. 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 Frisco to Grand Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($531,400 vs $203,900 median home), income ($144,567 vs $61,634), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Frisco, TX and Grand Rapids, MI are about 908 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.