Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Frisco, TX
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Frisco leads 15 of 23 categories
Frisco
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27
Population
202,075
Irvine
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Frisco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $494k less ($531,400 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $946/mo less ($1,803 vs $2,749)
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.9%)
Households earn $21,619 more per year on average
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Irvine, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Frisco by $21,619/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Frisco
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Frisco
Median Income
$21,619
$144,567 vs $122,948/yr
Frisco
Median Home Value
$494k less
$531,400 vs $1,025,700
Frisco
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.5% unemployment
Frisco
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Violent Crime
17% lower
84.0 vs 100.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Frisco, TX | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $531,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,803⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $144,567 ✓ Higher | $122,948 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 29.5% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 35 ✓ Safer | 40 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.9% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.5% ✓ Higher | 96.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FRISCO ISD | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.1" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,075 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.2% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 10.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Frisco's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Frisco is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 15 of 23 categories. Frisco wins 15 and Irvine wins 8. 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($531,400 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($144,567 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Frisco, TX and Irvine, CA are about 1,207 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.