Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Broken Arrow, OK
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 14 of 23 categories
Broken Arrow
Oklahoma
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5
Median Household Income
$82,547 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59
Population
114,237
McAllen
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Broken Arrow, OK
Pros
Households earn $26,221 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (223.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Cost of living runs 4% higher than McAllen
McAllen, TX
Pros
33% less violent crime than Broken Arrow
Homes cost $52k less ($158,700 vs $210,800)
Rent averages $228/mo less ($955 vs $1,183)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 49°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Median income trails Broken Arrow by $26,221/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Broken Arrow
Median Income
$26,221
$82,547 vs $56,326/yr
Broken Arrow
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
McAllen
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 89.5 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
33% lower
150.0 vs 223.1 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$52k less
$158,700 vs $210,800
McAllen
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 93.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Broken Arrow, OK | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $210,800 | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,183 | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,547 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 9.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROKEN ARROW | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.7" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,237 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Broken Arrow's cost of living index is 89.5 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 14 of 23 categories. Broken Arrow wins 9 and McAllen wins 14. 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 Broken Arrow to McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,800 vs $158,700 median home), income ($82,547 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Broken Arrow, OK and McAllen, TX are about 693 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.