New Yorker Makes Bold Move to Frisco, Texas
A 28-year-old New Yorker has left behind the five boroughs for the rapidly expanding suburbs of Texas. With many workers and businesses moving south in search of more affordable housing and better job opportunities, he claims he will “never” go back.
Akash Khanna, a commercial real estate agent, moved to Frisco, Texas, right after the pandemic began. His decision came after years of shuttling between Jersey City, Wall Street, Brooklyn, and Queens.
“Returning never crossed my mind,” Khanna shares, calling New York a “fast-paced” city that no longer aligns with his long-term aspirations.
In Frisco, he believes he’s found “the best of both worlds”—a mix of urban and suburban living in a thriving part of North Texas that attracts talent and businesses alike.
Frisco, about 40 miles north of Dallas, has transformed from a quiet town of 6,000 in the early 1990s to a bustling city of roughly 245,000 today, thanks to a steady influx of newcomers.
“We’ve been the fastest growing city in the country for the last decade,” said Gloria Salinas, executive vice president and chief growth officer of the Frisco Economic Development Corporation.
Several major companies, including TIAA and Toyota Financial Services, have large operations there, and even the Dallas Cowboys have relocated their headquarters to this suburb.
The city reports around 25 companies are considering relocation or expansion, with 11 potential corporate headquarters that could generate more than 15,000 jobs and approximately 3.1 million square feet of office space.
Currently, Frisco boasts over 70 schools and is in the process of developing a crucial commercial corridor expected to bring an additional 15 million square feet of office space within the next 15 years. This expansion is mainly targeted at financial, technology, and professional services companies moving from high-cost coastal areas.
Approximately 68 percent of the Dallas-Fort Worth area’s financial and tech professionals reside within a 30-minute drive of Frisco, making it an essential “talent reservoir.”
The city’s allure springs from a favorable mix of cost-effectiveness, job opportunity, and a blossoming business environment.
Transplants can effectively retain about “50 percent of their salary” compared to states with higher living costs. According to Forbes, a household earning $100,000 in Manhattan would only need approximately $41,189 in Dallas and $40,142 in Fort Worth to sustain a similar lifestyle. The cost of living is roughly 143% lower in Dallas and about 149% lower in Fort Worth compared to Manhattan.
Yet, Frisco’s growth narrative is more complex than just lower taxes and affordable housing.
City officials highlight decades of strategic planning, focusing on schools, infrastructure, and office development. Salinas mentions that the city spans about 70 square miles and welcomes 10,000 to 12,000 new residents each year.
Unlike many other fast-growing cities in the Sunbelt, which struggle with congestion and overdevelopment, Frisco markets itself as a master-planned community built around a “live-work-play” concept.
Schools and business districts have been strategically placed near the Dallas North Tollway, anticipated as a backbone for future development.
“You can’t have too much density. We’re planning for growth, so it won’t be too burdensome for residents,” Salinas adds.
The migration toward the area has gained speed since the pandemic, driven by the rise of remote and hybrid work settings.
“People aim to avoid a longer than 30-minute commute,” Salinas notes, pointing out that businesses are looking for office spaces closer to where workers actually reside.
The city actively promotes itself as a family-friendly, safer alternative to big urban centers, touting its expansive parks, mixed-use developments, and a reputation as one of America’s safest cities, along with a highly-rated public school system and various housing options, from affordable apartments to luxurious homes.
For Khanna, Frisco offers what he feels New York no longer does—a place to establish both a career and a future.
“I never envisioned settling there and raising a family,” he reflects on New York.
Interestingly, his move was somewhat spontaneous. Before visiting Texas, he had signed a lease in midtown Manhattan and was preparing to apply to Columbia Business School.
“I actually canceled the lease months before it was due,” he explains. “Texas just drew me in.”
