Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 17 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
McKinney
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $187k less ($213,400 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $610/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,740)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $58,550/yr
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 3.7%)
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $58,550 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$187k less
$213,400 vs $400,400
McKinney
Median Income
$58,550
$113,286 vs $54,736/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
86% lower
117.3 vs 816.9 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 8.0% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 42.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Albany is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 17 of 23 categories. Albany wins 6 and McKinney wins 17. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $400,400 median home), income ($54,736 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and McKinney, TX are about 1,401 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.