The suburb of Frisco, TX located just north of Dallas, is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. In the late 1990s, the rapid development of neighboring Plano spilled over into Frisco, sparking its explosive growth over the past decade. In 2000, Frisco had a population of 33,714. According to the 2010 census, there are now 102,412 living within the city limits!
Situated in both Collin and Denton counties, the community of Frisco sprung up almost overnight in 1902 as residents of nearby Lebanon moved their homes to be near the railway line. The new settlement was originally named Emerson, but was renamed to Frisco City in 1904 in honor of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway.
Frisco has developed into a bedroom community for professionals who work in the DFW Metroplex. Even though residential growth seems to be slowing somewhat, folks continue to migrate north to Frisco, drawn by its high-end (yet affordable) housing, excellent schools, and family-friendly environment.
Affordable Housing
The majority of the homes for sale in Frisco were built within the last ten years. Home prices have always been fairly reasonable in terms of real estate square footage, especially when compared to Plano and North Dallas. However, with the recent rise in foreclosures, houses in Frisco have become even more affordable. Prices can range from the $100,000s to the millions (in the luxury communities of Starwood, Stonebriar, and Lakes on Legacy).
Excellent Schools
Frisco schools have ranked consistently high within the state of Texas across all grades, with 60% of its campuses being ranked exemplary (compared to the 20% for other schools in Dallas/Fort Worth). The Frisco Independent School District strives to keep its schools at the 4A level while maintaining a better than average student/teacher ratio. The only downside to this philosophy is that new schools are being built to accommodate Frisco’s rapid growth, which leads to frequent rezoning. Most children end up switching schools at least once.
Frisco is also home to a number of institutes of higher learning, including a local campus for University of Dallas, Amberton University, and Collin College.
Family-Friendly Environment
Most of the people living in Frisco are young executives who are in the midst of building their families and their careers. Neighborhoods tend to be fairly tightly-knit, with families making the effort to know their neighbors. It’s not uncommon to see children playing together outdoors, flitting from one yard to the next. Frisco hosts a number of city events, most of which are focused on the family.
Frisco has taken measures to preserve and care for the trees within the community. In recognition of the city’s efforts, the National Arbor Day Foundation has awarded it the designation “Tree City USA” since 2003.
Cost of Living
Frisco’s cost of living is generally lower than the national average, but that’s primarily due to the low cost of its housing (half that of California, New York, Florida, or Arizona). Goods and services, on the other hand, tend to be exorbitant compared to other locations in DFW. High rent for retailers, along with the high median income, has basically created a market where local merchants charge consumers much higher prices than usual.
Accessibility
Aside from the reasonable housing and excellent schools, Frisco appeals to commuters because of its accessibility. Admittedly, the city went through some growing pains in the last decade as it struggled to accommodate the sudden influx of new residents, and traffic snarls were all too common. However, Frisco has taken steps to rectify the situation, and the extension of the North Dallas Toll Road to 121 has done wonders for relieving traffic congestion.
Frisco Statistics
Population: 104,412 (2010 census)
Median Age: 31
Median Household Income: $93,478
Average Household Size: 2.78
Crime Statistics: Frisco is well below the national average for violent crimes, but exceeds the national average in burglaries and theft.
College/University: University of Dallas, Amberton University, Dallas Baptist University, Collin College (Preston Ridge campus), Career and Technology Education Center
Sales Tax Rate: 8.25%
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