Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 19 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $355/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,740)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $49,260/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.7%)
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $49,260 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Bellingham
Homes cost $128k less ($400,400 vs $528,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
McKinney
Median Income
$49,260
$113,286 vs $64,026/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
66% lower
117.3 vs 350.0 per 100k
McKinney
Median Home Value
$128k less
$400,400 vs $528,600
McKinney
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.8% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
19.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $400,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
McKinney is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 19 of 23 categories. Bellingham 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 Bellingham to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $400,400 median home), income ($64,026 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and McKinney, TX are about 1,708 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.