Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Frisco, TX
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Frisco leads 17 of 23 categories
Frisco
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Frisco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $450k less ($531,400 vs $981,600)
79% less violent crime than Pasadena
Households earn $46,749 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.9%)
Rent averages $297/mo less ($1,803 vs $2,100)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Median income trails Frisco by $46,749/yr
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Frisco
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Frisco
Median Income
$46,749
$144,567 vs $97,818/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
79% lower
100.9 vs 480.4 per 100k
Frisco
Median Home Value
$450k less
$531,400 vs $981,600
Frisco
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.2% unemployment
Frisco
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 89.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Frisco, TX | Pasadena, 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 | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,803⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $144,567 ✓ Higher | $97,818 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 29.5% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 35 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 54.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.5% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FRISCO ISD | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.1" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,075 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.2% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Frisco's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Frisco is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 17 of 23 categories. Frisco wins 17 and Pasadena wins 6. 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($531,400 vs $981,600 median home), income ($144,567 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Frisco, TX and Pasadena, CA are about 1,226 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.