Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MD
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 12 of 19 categories
Columbia
Maryland
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
106,600
McKinney
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286
Violent Crime Index
31
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MD
Pros
More college-educated — 63.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $11,251 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,700
Higher rents — median is $1,895/mo
McKinney, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $58k less ($400,400 vs $458,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 43°F
Rent averages $155/mo less ($1,740 vs $1,895)
Cons
Median income trails Columbia by $11,251/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$11,251
$124,537 vs $113,286/yr
McKinney
Median Home Value
$58k less
$400,400 vs $458,700
McKinney
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MD | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $458,700⚠ High | $400,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,895⚠ High | $1,740⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,537 ✓ Higher | $113,286 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% | 18.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 34 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 31 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 39 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.6% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 94.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Howard County Public Schools | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.7°F | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.7" | 42.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.5" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,600 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.3% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 102.7 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, McKinney leads 12 of 19 categories. Columbia wins 7 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 Columbia to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,700 vs $400,400 median home), income ($124,537 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MD and McKinney, TX are about 1,176 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.