Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 15 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
97,980
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 56°F
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Median income trails McKinney by $17,716/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
McKinney, TX
Pros
Homes cost $197k less ($400,400 vs $597,100)
31% less violent crime than Boca Raton
Rent averages $430/mo less ($1,740 vs $2,170)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,716 more per year on average
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
McKinney
Median Income
$17,716
$113,286 vs $95,570/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
31% lower
117.3 vs 171.0 per 100k
McKinney
Median Home Value
$197k less
$400,400 vs $597,100
McKinney
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $400,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,740⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 94.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 56.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 42.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 64.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
McKinney is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 15 of 23 categories. Boca Raton 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 Boca Raton to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $400,400 median home), income ($95,570 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and McKinney, TX are about 1,098 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.