Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 12 of 22 categories
Arlington
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
McKinney
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $149k less ($251,300 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $443/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,740)
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $41,550/yr
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.7%)
McKinney, TX
Pros
76% less violent crime than Arlington
Households earn $41,550 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.7%)
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Home Value
$149k less
$251,300 vs $400,400
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.3 on the COL index
McKinney
Median Income
$41,550
$113,286 vs $71,736/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
76% lower
117.3 vs 482.9 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 56.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 196,160 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, McKinney leads 12 of 22 categories. Arlington wins 10 and McKinney wins 12. 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 Arlington to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $400,400 median home), income ($71,736 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and McKinney, TX are about 44 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.