Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Frisco, TX
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Frisco leads 12 of 20 categories
Frisco
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
118,063
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $50,205 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Richardson
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 65.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Richardson, TX
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($379,800 vs $531,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $78/mo less ($1,725 vs $1,803)
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $50,205/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Frisco
Median Income
$50,205
$144,567 vs $94,362/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
31% lower
100.9 vs 146.7 per 100k
Frisco
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.0% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.3 on the COL index
Richardson
Median Home Value
$152k less
$379,800 vs $531,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Frisco, TX | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $531,400⚠ High | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,803⚠ High | $1,725⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $144,567 ✓ Higher | $94,362 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 29.5% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 35 ✓ Safer | 58 |
| 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) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.5% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FRISCO ISD | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.1" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,075 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.2% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Frisco's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Frisco leads 12 of 20 categories. Frisco wins 12 and Richardson wins 8. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($531,400 vs $379,800 median home), income ($144,567 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Frisco, TX and Richardson, TX are about 14 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.