Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Frisco, TX
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Frisco leads 16 of 23 categories
Frisco
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$144,567
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075 ✓ Larger
Sunnyvale
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Frisco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1149k less ($531,400 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1187/mo less ($1,803 vs $2,990)
59% less violent crime than Sunnyvale
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $29,939/yr
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $29,939 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Frisco
Key Differences at a Glance
Frisco
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Frisco
Violent Crime
59% lower
100.9 vs 244.5 per 100k
Frisco
Median Home Value
$1149k less
$531,400 vs $1,680,700
Frisco
Summer Heat
17.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$29,939
$174,506 vs $144,567/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Frisco, TX | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $531,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,803⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $144,567 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 29.5% ✓ Higher | 24.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 35 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.9% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.5% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FRISCO ISD | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.1" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,075 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.2% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Frisco's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Frisco is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 16 of 23 categories. Frisco wins 16 and Sunnyvale wins 7. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($531,400 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($144,567 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Frisco, TX and Sunnyvale, CA are about 1,447 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.