Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Frisco, TX
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Frisco leads 16 of 23 categories
Frisco
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075 ✓ Larger
Lancaster
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $73,200 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Lancaster
More college-educated — 65.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $163k less ($368,800 vs $531,400)
Rent averages $227/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,803)
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $73,200/yr
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Frisco
Key Differences at a Glance
Frisco
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Frisco
Median Income
$73,200
$144,567 vs $71,367/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
88% lower
100.9 vs 834.7 per 100k
Frisco
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$163k less
$368,800 vs $531,400
Lancaster
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 94.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Frisco, TX | Lancaster, 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 | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,803⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $144,567 ✓ Higher | $71,367 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 29.5% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 35 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.5% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FRISCO ISD | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.1" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,075 ✓ Larger | 171,465 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.2% ✓ Higher | 57.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% ✓ More | 27.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 11.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Frisco's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Frisco is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 16 of 23 categories. Frisco wins 16 and Lancaster wins 7. 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($531,400 vs $368,800 median home), income ($144,567 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Frisco, TX and Lancaster, CA are about 1,227 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.