Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Frisco, TX
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Frisco leads 14 of 23 categories
Frisco
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $79,869 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Pasadena
More college-educated — 65.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Pasadena
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $360k less ($171,600 vs $531,400)
Rent averages $644/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,803)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 56°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Frisco
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $79,869/yr
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Frisco
Median Income
$79,869
$144,567 vs $64,698/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
82% lower
100.9 vs 566.1 per 100k
Frisco
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
3.9% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$360k less
$171,600 vs $531,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Frisco, TX | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $531,400⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,803⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $144,567 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 29.5% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 35 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.5% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FRISCO ISD | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 92.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.1" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,075 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.2% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 11.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Frisco's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 14 of 23 categories. Frisco wins 14 and Pasadena wins 9. 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 $171,600 median home), income ($144,567 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Frisco, TX and Pasadena, TX are about 261 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.