Updated October 2026 · Frisco 101, presented by Carrie Himel Group
The quick answer
Frisco is a city in North Texas, about 25 to 30 miles north of downtown Dallas. It sits in two counties, Collin on the east side and Denton on the west, and is home to nearly 250,000 people. It’s part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, but it’s very much its own city.
Whether you’re planning a visit, weighing a job offer or seriously thinking about moving here, this is your starter guide to where Frisco is, how long it takes to get places, and what you’re actually signing up for.
Frisco on the Map
Frisco sits on the northern edge of the Dallas suburbs, where the Dallas North Tollway meets the Sam Rayburn Tollway (State Highway 121). Zoom out and you’ll see Plano just south, McKinney to the east, and Lewisville Lake a few minutes to the west.
Open Frisco in Google Maps for directions from wherever you are.
How Far Is Frisco From Dallas (and Everything Else)?
Short answer: about 30 minutes to downtown Dallas with no traffic, closer to an hour at rush hour. Here’s the cheat sheet. Times are approximate, so check live traffic before you head out.
| Destination | Distance | Light traffic | Rush hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Dallas | about 28 miles | 30 to 35 min | 45 to 60 min |
| DFW International Airport | about 25 miles | 30 min | 45 to 60 min |
| Dallas Love Field | about 25 miles | 30 min | 45 to 60 min |
| Plano (Legacy West) | about 8 miles | 15 min | 25 min |
| Historic downtown McKinney | about 15 miles | 20 min | 30 min |
| Denton | about 25 miles | 30 min | 45 min |
| Downtown Fort Worth | about 45 miles | 50 min | 75 min or more |
| Oklahoma state line | about 55 miles | 1 hour | 1 hour 15 min |
The main roads: the Dallas North Tollway runs north and south through the middle of the city, and the Sam Rayburn Tollway (SH 121) cuts across the south end. Preston Road (SH 289), US 380 on the north side and FM 423 on the west side handle the rest. If you’ll commute on the tollways, get a TollTag.
What County Is Frisco In?
Both. Frisco is split between Collin County on the east side and Denton County on the west side. The Dallas North Tollway is a handy mental marker as you look at the map, but the actual county line doesn’t follow it exactly, so always check a specific address.
Why it matters if you’re buying a home: your county, your city and your school district all show up on your property tax bill, and the rates aren’t the same everywhere in town. Most of Frisco is in Frisco ISD, but some neighborhoods are zoned to Lewisville, Little Elm or Prosper ISD. Two houses a mile apart can land in different counties and different school districts, which is exactly the kind of thing a local agent should flag for you before you fall in love with a kitchen.
Is Frisco Part of Dallas?
No. Frisco is its own city with its own mayor, city council, police, fire department and school district. It’s part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, so you’ll hear people say they live “in Dallas” when they’re traveling. Locals just say Frisco.
Some locals have started calling the region “DFFW”: Dallas, Frisco, Fort Worth. It’s not official, and you won’t see it on any airport signs, but the nickname keeps popping up in local news and real estate circles. With the Cowboys, the PGA of America and a growing list of company headquarters calling Frisco home, that extra F is getting harder to argue with.
Frisco’s Neighbors
- Prosper to the north: newer, quieter and growing fast, with bigger lots.
- McKinney to the east: a historic downtown square plus plenty of newer neighborhoods.
- Allen to the east: known for its shopping and its high school football stadium.
- Plano to the south: more established, with Legacy West and a lot of corporate headquarters.
- The Colony to the southwest: home to Grandscape and right on Lewisville Lake.
- Little Elm to the west: lake life, with a beach park on Lewisville Lake.
What Is Frisco Known For?
Frisco calls itself Sports City USA, and it earns the nickname. In a city that was mostly farmland a few decades ago, you’ll now find:
- The Star, the Dallas Cowboys’ headquarters and training facility, with restaurants and shops around it.
- PGA Frisco, home of the PGA of America headquarters, two championship courses and the Omni PGA Frisco Resort.
- Toyota Stadium, home of FC Dallas, with the National Soccer Hall of Fame right next door.
- Riders Field, where the Frisco RoughRiders play, and the Comerica Center, home of the Texas Legends and a Dallas Stars practice rink.
- Downtown Frisco and the Rail District, where the town started around the railroad in 1902.
Planning what to do once you’re here? Start with our fall guide and the Lifestyle Frisco events calendar.
Thinking about moving to Frisco?
Advice From Someone Who Lives Here
“We love Frisco because it’s a big city that still has a small-town feel. We chose it back in 2005, when we got married, because we had a big family and the schools were amazing. Since then, Frisco has grown into Sports City USA, with absolutely everything you could want in a city.”
Carrie Himel has called Frisco home for over two decades and has been named a D Magazine Best Realtor every year since 2016.
What Carrie tells people who are moving here
- The schools are a big draw. Frisco’s public schools are highly rated, and there are private options too. Because the city has so many campuses, kids can find their thing and get plugged in from elementary through high school, unlike towns with only one or two high schools.
- It’s built for sports families. Frisco is home to 13 sports organizations, and Men’s Journal once named it the best place to raise an athlete.
- There’s always something to do. The National Videogame Museum, live games, movies in the park, a fast-growing restaurant scene and a parks department the city is rightly proud of.
- Everyday errands are easy. H-E-B, specialty grocers, great bakeries and a fun Asian market area to explore. A Trader Joe’s is in the works on the west side, and Whole Foods is anchoring The Mix.
- You don’t have to drive to Dallas to shop. Stonebriar Centre covers the big names, and downtown Frisco is full of local shops and boutiques.
- The jobs keep coming. Big companies keep choosing Frisco, including Keurig Dr Pepper’s Texas headquarters and, in 2026, Public Storage’s headquarters and about 300 jobs.
- Getting out of town is easy. With two major toll roads, most of Frisco is about 30 minutes from the airport.
Homes start around
the high $300s
Luxury homes reach
$7 to $8 million
Median sale price
about $658,000
Median days on market
57 days
Price range from Carrie Himel Group, October 2026. Median sale price and days on market for the three months ending August 2026, from Redfin.
Explore Frisco neighborhoods
Carrie Himel Group · COMPASS
Frisco FAQ
What county is Frisco, Texas in?
Frisco is in two counties: Collin County on the east side and Denton County on the west side.
How far is Frisco from Dallas?
Downtown Dallas is about 28 miles south of Frisco. That’s roughly a 30-minute drive in light traffic and 45 to 60 minutes at rush hour.
What is the population of Frisco?
Nearly 250,000 people. The City of Frisco’s latest monthly estimate is 249,511, up from 200,509 in the 2020 census.
What area code is Frisco, TX?
Frisco uses the Dallas-area codes 214, 469, 972 and 945. You’ll need to dial all 10 digits for local calls.
What is the closest airport to Frisco?
DFW International Airport and Dallas Love Field are each about 25 miles away, roughly 30 minutes in light traffic.
What school district is Frisco in?
Most of Frisco is in Frisco ISD. Some neighborhoods are zoned to Lewisville ISD, Little Elm ISD or Prosper ISD, so check the specific address.
What’s the weather like in Frisco?
Hot summers, mild winters and plenty of sunshine. July highs average in the mid-90s, January lows hover in the low 30s, and the area gets about 39 inches of rain a year. Spring is storm season, so it’s worth knowing your tornado plan.
New to Frisco, or thinking about a move?
Find your spot in Frisco
Carrie Himel has called Frisco home for over two decades and has been named a D Magazine Best Realtor every year since 2016. Buying, selling or just curious what your place is worth? She’s one quick call away.
Carrie Himel Group · COMPASS
