Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 16 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
McKinney
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Rent averages $444/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,740)
Homes cost $84k less ($316,600 vs $400,400)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $38,576/yr
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
McKinney, TX
Pros
81% less violent crime than Durham
Households earn $38,576 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 49°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Durham
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Home Value
$84k less
$316,600 vs $400,400
McKinney
Median Income
$38,576
$113,286 vs $74,710/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
81% lower
117.3 vs 619.2 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.3% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 42.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 196,160 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Durham is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 16 of 23 categories. Durham wins 7 and McKinney wins 16. 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 Durham to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $400,400 median home), income ($74,710 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and McKinney, TX are about 1,027 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.