Frisco may be the home base of the Dallas Cowboys, the richest team in the NFL, but it’s also home to some of the richest people in the country.
A recent ranking from data provider HomeSnacks puts Frisco at No. 3 among the richest big cities in the U.S. In last year’s HomeSnacks study, Frisco held the No. 4 spot.
HomeSnacks looked at three data points to rank the country’s richest big cities: median household income, unemployment rate, and poverty rate.
Appearing ahead of Frisco in the study are Cary, North Carolina, and Centennial, Colorado. The study features the 306 U.S. cities with at least 100,000 residents (which is why Tarrant County cities like Southlake and Colleyville don't qualify).
Four other cities in Dallas-Fort Worth made the top 50:
- No. 12 McKinney. The median household income was $100,775 (No. 23), the unemployment rate was 3.5 percent (No. 14), and the poverty rate was 6.9 percent (No. 29).
- No. 15 Allen. The median household income was $113,719 (No. 11), the unemployment rate was 4.3 percent (No. 59), and the poverty rate was 4.1 percent (No. 5).
- No. 19 Plano. The median household income was $96,348 (No. 33), the unemployment rate was 4 percent (No. 41), and the poverty rate was 6.3 percent (No. 17).
- No. 23 Carrollton. The median household income was $82,345 (No. 61), the unemployment rate was 3.7 percent (No. 23), and the poverty rate was 6.5 percent (No. 18).
At the time the study came out, Frisco’s median income was $128,761, the fifth highest showing among big cities. Meanwhile, Frisco’s unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, the 25th lowest rate among the big cities, and the poverty rate was 4 percent, the fourth lowest rate. (In some cases, cities are listed has having the same unemployment rate or poverty rate. But their rankings in those categories differ because HomeSnacks sorted them by carrying out the rates by several decimal points.)
In its incredibly snarky commentary on Frisco, HomeSnacks insists that most of the city’s well-to-do frequent Whole Foods, Starbucks, CorePower Yoga, and Lululemon. And, without any data to back up its claim, HomeSnacks reports that Frisco is chock-full of doctors, lawyers, business owners, and entrepreneurs.
“Do you think they know they’re the richest people in the state? I think that’s a safe bet,” HomeSnacks writer Chris Kolmar observes in his commentary on Frisco.
“Is it snobby here? Maybe from an [outsiders’] standpoint, but it might be more of a shallow suburban type of vibe. Does being rich make you out of touch with reality? Perhaps. But money does … buy happiness. Just ask someone without it.”
Joining Frisco in HomeSnacks’ top 10 are two Houston suburbs: No. 7 Pearland and No. 10 League City.
Pearland’s median household income was $102,764 (ranked 19th), while its unemployment rate was 3.8 percent (ranked 29th) and its poverty rate was 3.5 percent (ranked seventh). In League City, the median household income was $108,979 (ranked 14th), the unemployment rate was 3.9 percent (ranked 32nd), and the poverty rate was 5.4 percent (ranked 13th).
In Texas’ other major metro areas, Sugar Land (Houston) ranked 24th and Round Rock (Austin) ranked 37th.
In Sugar Land, the median household income was $123,261 (No. 7), the unemployment rate was 4.9 percent (No. 93), and the poverty rate was 4.4 percent (No. 24).
In Round Rock, the median household income was $86,121 (No. 49), the unemployment rate was 4.9 percent (No. 88), and the poverty rate was 6.2 percent (No. 16).
Analyzing this article requires diving into various economic indicators and regional rankings. HomeSnacks, a data provider, used three key metrics—median household income, unemployment rate, and poverty rate—to determine the wealthiest big cities in the United States. These indicators offer a comprehensive view of a city's economic well-being.
For instance, Frisco in Texas, known for being home to the Dallas Cowboys and affluent residents, secured the third spot among the wealthiest big cities in the U.S. According to the study, Frisco exhibited a median household income of $128,761, which was notably high and placed it fifth among big cities. Moreover, Frisco showcased a relatively low unemployment rate of 3.7 percent, ranking 25th among the big cities, and a poverty rate of 4 percent, standing fourth lowest among these cities.
The methodology involved evaluating 306 U.S. cities with populations exceeding 100,000 inhabitants. Notably, some cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area also made it into the top 50, including McKinney, Allen, Plano, and Carrollton, each with varying income levels, unemployment rates, and poverty rates.
Frisco's portrayal by HomeSnacks as a haven for affluent individuals frequenting establishments like Whole Foods, Starbucks, CorePower Yoga, and Lululemon adds a touch of social observation to the statistical data. The article's writer, Chris Kolmar, seems to present a satirical take on Frisco's affluent lifestyle, mentioning doctors, lawyers, business owners, and entrepreneurs as part of the city's demographic without explicit data to support these claims.
Furthermore, the study expanded beyond Frisco, highlighting other affluent cities like Pearland and League City, both Houston suburbs, along with additional notable cities in Texas such as Sugar Land and Round Rock. Each of these cities displayed varying income levels, unemployment rates, and poverty rates, showcasing the diversity of wealth distribution across different regions in Texas.
This comprehensive analysis provides a nuanced understanding of economic disparities and affluent living across various cities in the United States, specifically in Texas, shedding light on the multifaceted nature of wealth and socio-economic status within different urban landscapes.
