Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Frisco, TX
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 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
Mesa
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $70,801 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Mesa
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 0.8 pts lower (3.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Mesa
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($327,700 vs $531,400)
Rent averages $451/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,803)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Frisco
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $70,801/yr
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.9%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Frisco
Median Income
$70,801
$144,567 vs $73,766/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
79% lower
100.9 vs 482.7 per 100k
Frisco
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.7% unemployment
Mesa
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Home Value
$204k less
$327,700 vs $531,400
Mesa
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 94.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Frisco, TX | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $531,400⚠ High | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,803⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $144,567 ✓ Higher | $73,766 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 29.5% ✓ Higher | 14.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 35 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.5% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FRISCO ISD | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.1" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,075 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.2% ✓ Higher | 63.2% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Frisco's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 13 of 23 categories. Frisco wins 13 and Mesa 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($531,400 vs $327,700 median home), income ($144,567 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Frisco, TX and Mesa, AZ are about 860 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.