Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Deltona, FL
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 12 of 20 categories
Deltona
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,074 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
94,373
McAllen
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Deltona, FL
Pros
Households earn $12,748 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 98°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,417/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than McAllen
Longer commutes — 34.4 min average each way
McAllen, TX
Pros
Rent averages $462/mo less ($955 vs $1,417)
Homes cost $68k less ($158,700 vs $226,800)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Deltona
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Deltona by $12,748/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Deltona
Median Income
$12,748
$69,074 vs $56,326/yr
Deltona
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.4% unemployment
McAllen
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Home Value
$68k less
$158,700 vs $226,800
McAllen
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 91.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Deltona, FL | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $226,800 | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,417⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,074 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.4 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 59 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 39 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.6% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | VOLUSIA | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.1°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,373 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.3% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Deltona's cost of living index is 102.4 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, McAllen leads 12 of 20 categories. Deltona wins 8 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 Deltona to McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,800 vs $158,700 median home), income ($69,074 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Deltona, FL and McAllen, TX are about 1,059 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.