Size

Let’s start with the size. The DFW metroplex is the 4th largest in the United States, and it keeps growing. And if you ask anyone, they’ll tell you that a lot of this growth is happening in North Dallas, specifically Collin County, where both Frisco and Prosper are situated. 

Frisco 

Frisco is the bigger of the two cities, by far. It has a population of around 236,000 people and takes up almost 70 square miles of land. 

Because it is a much more developed city, you’ll get more of the urban feel here. 

Prosper

Prosper’s growth is relatively recent and therefore has a much smaller population of around  41,000 and only occupies around 25 square miles. 

So Frisco wins the first point because of its size. And who knows, if you prefer a smaller area, you may give Prosper a point here. But we are going to award it to Frisco. 

Both Frisco and Prosper are situated primarily in Collin County (although parts of both are in Denton County), which is about as North as you can go before you have to stop calling it Dallas. 

Both cities are a little ways from Downtown Dallas so if you will be commuting there, you should be prepared to drive for a bit to get to work.  The good news is, Frisco and Prosper are only around 10 miles from each other so if you want to live in Prosper and work in Frisco, you’ll have no problem. 

Frisco 

Frisco is located: 

• 20 miles north of Dallas
• 25 West of Fort Worth
• 26 miles from the DFW airport

Prosper

Prosper is located: 

• 37 miles from Dallas
• 63 miles from Fort Worth
• 35 miles from DFW airport 

Because Frisco is closer to places like Dallas, DFW airport, and pretty much everything else in the DFW, it wins this round. 

Economy

Now let’s talk about the economy in each of these cities. Because they will be vastly different. Economy in this sense refers to job opportunities and income. 

Frisco

If you have had your eye on the Dallas area for a while, then you’ll notice that Frisco seems to just keep getting bigger and bigger. It is expanding up, down, side to side, and every which way. That’s because they have one of the strongest economies in the entire metroplex. This is largely due to all of the industries that have moved there over the past decades. Finance, Insurance, Technical, Professional, and pretty much every white collar industry is booming in Frisco. Back in 2019, it was even ranked #1 in employment growth in the U.S. in 2019. 

This leads to their high median household income of $144,567 which is nearly double that of the Texas median of around $74,000. 

So, for those moving to Frisco in search of a new job or overall economic prosperity, you’ll have a hard time finding a better option. 

Prosper

Like we said, Prosper’s boom is much more recent and therefore has not had the time required to develop the infrastructure and business environment that Frisco has. Many of the residents of Prosper do not work in the city and commute to areas such as Frisco, Plano, or Dallas. 

But even then, the median household income is around $215,000, making it one of the more luxurious North Dallas suburbs. 

So, because many of those who live in Prosper might not actually be working there, we are going to award this next point to Frisco. 

Schools

If there is one thing that North Dallas and Collin/Denton County are known for… it’s their schools. Both of these cities have some of the highest rated schools in the entire state, so let’s break down each city's school systems and what makes them so special. 

Frisco 

The schools in Frisco are part of the Frisco Independent School District (ISD), which encompasses twelve high schools, nineteen middle schools, and forty-four elementary schools. With approximately 65,000 students enrolled, the district is one the largest in the DFW. It has also been highly acclaimed, earning an A+ rating from niche.com, been ranked as the 15th best school district in Texas and is situated in the top 2% of school districts nationwide.

High Schools:

• Centennial High School
• Emerson High School
• Frisco High School
• Heritage High School
• Independence High School
• Lebanon Trail High School
• Liberty High School
• Lone Star High School
• Memorial High School
• Panther Creek High School
• Reedy High School
• Wakeland High School

Private Schools

Frisco also has the luxury of containing quite a few private schools if that is something that you are looking for. Grace Covenant Academy and Legacy Christian Academy are among the biggest. 

Prosper

The schools in Prosper, Texas are part of the Prosper Independent School District (ISD), which includes three high schools:

• 
  Prosper High School
• Rock Hill High School 
• Walnut Grove High School 
• There is also a fourth high school under construction named Richland High School. It will be built in a neoclassical architectural style (tall columns and dome roofs)  and feature a central library. 

Additionally, there are four middle schools and fifteen elementary schools within the district. Prosper ISD is highly regarded, ranking in the top 2% of school districts nationwide, the top 1% in Texas, and the top 0.7% for athletic programs in the country. With a total student population of 25,314, the district maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of approximately 16 to 1.

Private Schools

Prosper also has a private school option for those interested: Prestonwood Christian Academy  North which accepts preK-12 students.

Frisco ISD and Prosper ISD are both some of the most coveted and prestigious school districts in the state, so to pit them against each other, I’ll look at the rankings of each as assigned by niche.com. 

Niche gives both school districts A+ rating but ranks Frisco as the #15th best in Texas and Prosper as the #18th best in Texas. 

Therefore, Frisco wins this round and it’s looking pretty bleak for Prosper, but let’s see if it can make up some more ground. 

Parks and Recreation

If you have kids that need to blow off some steam by running around outside or if you’re interested in joining a community softball league, you’ll be pleased to hear that both of these cities have park systems for just that. 

North Dallas takes their parks seriously and Frisco and Prosper are no different. Here are some of the highlights of each, so that you know exactly where to go for your next pick-up basketball game. 

Frisco 

Frisco has over 50 parks ranging in size from small neighborhood pockets to massive community parks. 

The largest and definitely the gem of their park system that is well worth a visit is Frisco Commons Park, a 63 acre community park with: 

• An Amphitheater
• BBQ Grills
• Hiking and Biking Trails
• Picnic Tables
• Playgrounds
• A Pond

Prosper

Prosper may be smaller, but its park system spoils its residents. There are over 634 acres of developed park area and over 50 miles of trails throughout the town. 

Frontier Park is the town's largest park, with 80 acres of land and its own massive sports complex.

• The sports complex includes:
• 11 soccer fields
• 2 synthetic turf multipurpose fields
• 3 synthetic turf baseball or softball fields
• A five-plex of baseball and softball fields
• 5 backstops
• 4 batting cages
• A lacrosse field
• Frontier Park also features:
• A catch and release pond
• A pedestrian bridge
• A 1.7 mile-long paved walking trail
• Playgrounds 
• A splash pad

Prosper has a lot of green space and a lot of areas dedicated to parks are rec. I mean, the city is less than half the size of Frisco and its flagship park is still bigger. Prosper is on the board with a win here. 

Attractions

Now let’s move on to attractions. What is there to do in these cities?

Well, If you are looking for things to do, it’s going to be hard to beat Frisco. There are so many options from museums to sports stadiums to restaurants and shopping that you could live there your whole life and not get to everything. But Prosper also has its gems and you are always just a short drive to Frisco, Plano, and Dallas. So, let’s take a look at some of the best things that  you can do to kill some time in each city. 

Frisco 

Like I said, Frisco is hard to beat in the entertainment department. 

You can head to the Star, the Dallas Cowboys headquarters with a couple of great shops and dining options (City Works and Concrete Cowboy). 

There is also the National VideoGame Museum, where you can take a self-guided tour playing video games from every decade. 

For shopping, Stonebriar Centre is one of the best malls in the DFW or you can visit Frisco Town Square, where you’ll find dozens of shops and restaurants. 

There truly are gems scattered all over Frisco, the challenge is to see how many you can visit. 

Prosper

Prosper is going to be a little more limited on entertainment options, but don’t worry, because it will get there. The city is growing too fast for it not to! 

If you are adamant about staying in Prosper however, there are a few great restaurants and coffee shops and you can even get some shopping done at the Gates of Prosper, an 800 acre shopping center with over 100 stores. 

Keep in mind, Frisco is just a ten minute drive away, so you won’t have to go far to experience the fun that Frisco has to offer. 

Because Frisco has more attractions, it earns a point here as well. 

Growth

Now, let’s talk about growth. North Dallas is pretty notorious for growing very quickly very fast. 

Both Frisco and Prosper have experienced historic growth in the past twenty years. What were once two little post offices are now thriving towns. But how much more can they grow? Let’s find out. 

Frisco 

Twenty years ago was really the prime of Frisco’s population boom and has since experienced a more manageable growth rate for the past couple of years. It still has a maximum buildout potential of around 365,000 so if it keeps trending in that direction, Frisco could be absolutely massive. 

Prosper

Prosper is where Frisco was around twenty years ago. Growing at an incredibly high rate. Its growth rate is almost 11% per year, making it the 5th fastest growing suburb in the DFW. It only has a projected buildout population of around 72,000 so while it may not be as big as Frisco, keep in mind that back in 2010, it had less than 10,000 people. 

Frisco may have stood a chance twenty years ago but right now, Prosper is growing much faster, so it earns a point here. 

Homes

Well, you’ve heard about the cities and what makes them special, but now you’re probably wondering about the most important thing… the homes.

Frisco and Prosper are popular for a reason… They both have some of the best real estate in the DFW. If you are looking for a master planned community, then these two should be at the top of your list. So, let’s dive into each city's housing and see which one might make more sense for you. 

Frisco 

The median home price in Frisco currently sits at around $700,000. Since this city has had a couple of extra decades to develop, you’ll be able to find plenty of pre-existing homes scattered around the area. But Frisco is still growing, so they are still building. Just take a look at Fields, the $12 billion dollar development currently under construction that will even include a new Universal theme park.

You also have popular master planned communities like the Grove, Lexington, and Starwood. 

Prosper

Prosper has a little bit higher median home price sitting around $885,000 right now. Some of the most popular master-planned communities here include Windsong Ranch, which has its own 5 acre lagoon with white sandy beaches, and Star Trails. 

This is a tough one. The lower home prices of Frisco or all of the new communities popping up in Prosper. This would be an easier decision if not for the Fields development, which puts Frisco just a bit ahead in terms of housing, so they will earn the final point. 

And The Winner IS…

And there we have it. With a score of 6 to 2, Frisco is our winner. And does that really surprise you? (I’m talking to you DFFW deniers). 

That being said, this list is just for fun and both cities are some of the best places to live in all of Dallas. It just depends on your preference. Let me know if you disagree with any of my scoring!

The Living in Dallas Texas Team Can Help With Your Move

Stuck on whether Frisco or Prosper is the better option for you? Make sure you give the Living in Dallas Texas Team a call so we can help you make that decision. We will look closely at your situation and take into account all of the perks that you are looking for in a new city. Give us a call or hop on a zoom so we can help you make that smooth move to Dallas, Texas!