Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 19 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
McKinney
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Rent averages $89/mo less ($1,651 vs $1,740)
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $34,601/yr
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.7%)
McKinney, TX
Pros
88% less violent crime than Aurora
Households earn $34,601 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
McKinney
Median Income
$34,601
$113,286 vs $78,685/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
88% lower
117.3 vs 947.8 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 90.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, 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 | $409,700⚠ High | $400,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 196,160 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora'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 19 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 4 and McKinney wins 19. 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 Aurora to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $400,400 median home), income ($78,685 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and McKinney, TX are about 634 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.