Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Frisco, TX
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Frisco leads 17 of 22 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
Knoxville
Tennessee
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $96,258 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Knoxville
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 0.9 pts lower (3.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Knoxville
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $347k less ($184,200 vs $531,400)
Rent averages $760/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,803)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Frisco
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $96,258/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Frisco
Median Income
$96,258
$144,567 vs $48,309/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
86% lower
100.9 vs 740.3 per 100k
Frisco
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.8% unemployment
Frisco
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 88.3°F
Knoxville
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$347k less
$184,200 vs $531,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Frisco, TX | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $531,400⚠ High | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,803⚠ High | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $144,567 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 29.5% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 35 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.5% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FRISCO ISD | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.1" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 4.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,075 ✓ Larger | 191,857 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.2% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Frisco's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Frisco leads 17 of 22 categories. Frisco wins 17 and Knoxville wins 5. 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 Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($531,400 vs $184,200 median home), income ($144,567 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Frisco, TX and Knoxville, TN are about 757 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.