Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 19 of 23 categories
East Los Angeles
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High
Population
117,222
McAllen
Texas
19
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.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $7,793 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than McAllen
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $424k less ($158,700 vs $582,400)
73% less violent crime than East Los Angeles
Rent averages $414/mo less ($955 vs $1,369)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails East Los Angeles by $7,793/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
East Los Angeles
Median Income
$7,793
$64,119 vs $56,326/yr
McAllen
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
73% lower
150.0 vs 558.4 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$424k less
$158,700 vs $582,400
McAllen
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
15.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 9.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 78.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 27.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 19 of 23 categories. East Los Angeles wins 4 and McAllen wins 19. 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 East Los Angeles to McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $158,700 median home), income ($64,119 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and McAllen, TX are about 1,304 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.