Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 12 of 21 categories
Carrollton
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380
Violent Crime Index
36
Population
132,284
McKinney
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
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.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($327,300 vs $400,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $185/mo less ($1,555 vs $1,740)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $17,906/yr
McKinney, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,906 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Median Home Value
$73k less
$327,300 vs $400,400
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.3 on the COL index
McKinney
Median Income
$17,906
$113,286 vs $95,380/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
14% lower
117.3 vs 137.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, McKinney leads 12 of 21 categories. Carrollton wins 9 and McKinney wins 12. 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 Carrollton to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $400,400 median home), income ($95,380 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and McKinney, TX are about 20 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.