Denton, TX vs Frisco, TX
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Sep 2026
Report card
| Category | DentonDenton, TX | FriscoFrisco, TX | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Good | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Safe | Moderate | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Great | |
| Sovereignty | High Autonomy | High Autonomy | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 15.9% in Denton, TX versus 3.5% in Frisco, TX, the poverty rate gap is the widest among the 2023 Census figures for these two cities. Median household income runs $73,719 in Denton against $146,158 in Frisco, placing Denton in the 51st percentile and Frisco in the 94th percentile. Per-capita income follows the same pattern at $37,286 versus $66,335, with Frisco in the 90th percentile and Denton in the 48th percentile.
Healthcare access scores diverge sharply: Denton sits at 65/100 in the 27th percentile, while Frisco reaches 99/100 in the 79th percentile. Work-from-home rates also differ, with 12.2% of Denton workers remote compared to 33.7% in Frisco, a 21.5-point spread that places Frisco in the 98th percentile. Median age is 31 in Denton versus 38.1 in Frisco, a 7.1-year difference. Air quality index values are 47 in Denton and 40 in Frisco, an 18% difference that puts Denton in the 72nd percentile and Frisco in the 36th percentile.
Cost of living reflects the income gap: the index is 116 in Denton versus 183 in Frisco, with median home values at $325,700 and $595,400 respectively. Median rent runs $1,344 in Denton and $1,902 in Frisco. Unemployment is identical at 3.8% in both cities, but job growth differs at +2.0% for Denton versus +3.2% for Frisco. Violent crime per 100,000 people is 197 in Denton and 342 in Frisco, while property crime rates are close at 1,716 and 1,781.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Denton, TX | Frisco, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 11660th pctl | 18388th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Denton, TX 116; Frisco, TX 183; Frisco is 58% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $325,70059th pctl | $595,40087th pctl | Median home value: Denton, TX $325,700; Frisco, TX $595,400; Frisco is 83% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,34460th pctl | $1,90289th pctl | Median rent: Denton, TX $1,344; Frisco, TX $1,902; Frisco is 42% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $73,71951st pctl | $146,15894th pctl | Median household income: Denton, TX $73,719; Frisco, TX $146,158; Frisco is 98% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $63,27860th pctl | $115,67690th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Denton, TX $63,278; Frisco, TX $115,676; Frisco is 83% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $93,01860th pctl | $170,04390th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Denton, TX $93,018; Frisco, TX $170,043; Frisco is 83% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Affordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Frisco needs about
$118,300
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 116 vs 183). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Denton, TX | Frisco, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.8%57th pctl | 3.8%57th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +2.0%76th pctl | +3.2%89th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Denton, TX +2.0%; Frisco, TX +3.2%; Frisco is 1.2 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $37,28648th pctl | $66,33590th pctl | Per-capita income: Denton, TX $37,286; Frisco, TX $66,335; Frisco is 78% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 15.9%70th pctl | 3.5%6th pctl | Poverty rate: Denton, TX 15.9%; Frisco, TX 3.5%; Denton is 12.4 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 24.6 min58th pctl | 28.6 min82nd pctl | Average commute: Denton, TX 24.6 min; Frisco, TX 28.6 min; Frisco is 4 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 12.2%58th pctl | 33.7%98th pctl | Work from home: Denton, TX 12.2%; Frisco, TX 33.7%; Frisco is 21.5 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Strong | Economic opportunity: Denton, TX C-; Frisco, TX B; Frisco is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Denton, TX | Frisco, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 19740th pctl | 34268th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Denton, TX 197; Frisco, TX 342; Frisco is 74% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,71667th pctl | 1,78169th pctl | About the same |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Safe | Fair | About the same |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Denton, TX A+; Frisco, TX A-; Denton is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Denton, TX | Frisco, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | StrongCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Healthcare access: Denton, TX B; Frisco, TX A+; Frisco is graded higher. |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort, broadband and local food access aren't available for either place; walkability isn't available for Denton, TX.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Texas, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Texas →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Denton, TX | Frisco, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 36 mi36th pctl | 26 mi31st pctl | Nearest large city: Denton, TX 36 mi; Frisco, TX 26 mi; Denton is 38% higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Fair | Target proximity: Denton, TX D+; Frisco, TX B; Frisco is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 343 mi53rd pctl | 352 mi54th pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 271 mi53rd pctl | 260 mi51st pctl | About the same |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Denton, TX | Frisco, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 146,98793rd pctl | 210,23896th pctl | Population: Denton, TX 146,987; Frisco, TX 210,238; Frisco is 43% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,51646th pctl | 3,06579th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Denton, TX 1,516; Frisco, TX 3,065; Frisco is 2.0 times higher. |
| Median age | 319th pctl | 38.151st pctl | Median age: Denton, TX 31; Frisco, TX 38.1; Frisco is 7.1 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.9%70th pctl | 66.0%92nd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Denton, TX 41.9%; Frisco, TX 66.0%; Frisco is 24.1 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.663rd pctl | 2.884th pctl | Average household size: Denton, TX 2.6; Frisco, TX 2.8; Frisco is 11% larger. |
More about Denton's residents · Frisco's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Denton and Frisco
- Median rent: $1,344 in Denton, $1,902 in Frisco
- Median home value: $325,700 in Denton, $595,400 in Frisco
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 116 in Denton, 183 in Frisco
- Median household income: $73,719 in Denton, $146,158 in Frisco
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $93,018 in Denton, $170,043 in Frisco
- Unemployment: 3.8% in Denton, 3.8% in Frisco
- Average commute: 24.6 min in Denton, 28.6 min in Frisco
- Violent crime per 100k: 197 in Denton, 342 in Frisco
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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