Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 13 of 22 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960
McKinney
Texas
13
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.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Rent averages $223/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,740)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $29,395/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
McKinney, TX
Pros
67% less violent crime than Charleston
Households earn $29,395 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $39k less ($400,400 vs $438,900)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
McKinney
Median Income
$29,395
$113,286 vs $83,891/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
67% lower
117.3 vs 357.6 per 100k
McKinney
Median Home Value
$39k less
$400,400 vs $438,900
McKinney
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $400,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 94.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 56.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 42.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, McKinney leads 13 of 22 categories. Charleston wins 9 and McKinney wins 13. 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 Charleston to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $400,400 median home), income ($83,891 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and McKinney, TX are about 966 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.