Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 15 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
McKinney
Texas
15
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.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Rent averages $517/mo less ($1,223 vs $1,740)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $36,884/yr
McKinney, TX
Pros
60% less violent crime than Boise City
Households earn $36,884 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Boise City
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
McKinney
Median Income
$36,884
$113,286 vs $76,402/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
60% lower
117.3 vs 293.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $400,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 94.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 196,160 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 15 of 23 categories. Boise City 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 Boise City to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $400,400 median home), income ($76,402 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and McKinney, TX are about 1,275 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.