Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 12 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
107,702
McAllen
Texas
12
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.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $68,291 more per year on average
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than McAllen
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $428k less ($158,700 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $994/mo less ($955 vs $1,949)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 45°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $68,291/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$68,291
$124,617 vs $56,326/yr
Centennial
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
McAllen
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
13% lower
150.0 vs 172.8 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$428k less
$158,700 vs $586,500
McAllen
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 27.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 12 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 11 and McAllen 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 Centennial to McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $158,700 median home), income ($124,617 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and McAllen, TX are about 999 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.