Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 15 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066
McKinney
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails McKinney by $7,272/yr
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
McKinney, TX
Pros
59% less violent crime than Arvada
Homes cost $153k less ($400,400 vs $553,000)
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Households earn $7,272 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
McKinney
Median Income
$7,272
$113,286 vs $106,014/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
59% lower
117.3 vs 285.6 per 100k
McKinney
Median Home Value
$153k less
$400,400 vs $553,000
McKinney
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $400,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 18.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 94.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 64.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
McKinney is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 15 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 8 and McKinney wins 15. 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 Arvada to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $400,400 median home), income ($106,014 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and McKinney, TX are about 657 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.