Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Frisco, TX
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 Frisco leads 13 of 23 categories
Frisco
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075 ✓ Larger
McAllen
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
142,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $88,241 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than McAllen
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 1.5 pts lower (3.9%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than McAllen
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $373k less ($158,700 vs $531,400)
Rent averages $848/mo less ($955 vs $1,803)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Frisco
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $88,241/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Frisco
Median Income
$88,241
$144,567 vs $56,326/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
33% lower
100.9 vs 150.0 per 100k
Frisco
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.4% unemployment
McAllen
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Home Value
$373k less
$158,700 vs $531,400
McAllen
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 94.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Frisco, TX | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $531,400⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,803⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $144,567 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 29.5% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 35 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 39 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.5% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FRISCO ISD | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.1" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,075 ✓ Larger | 142,722 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.2% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% ✓ More | 28.3% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Frisco's cost of living index is 103.3 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 13 of 23 categories. Frisco wins 13 and McAllen wins 10. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($531,400 vs $158,700 median home), income ($144,567 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Frisco, TX and McAllen, TX are about 486 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.