Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 14 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
McKinney
Texas
14
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.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $241k less ($159,300 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $764/mo less ($976 vs $1,740)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $57,576/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 3.7%)
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $57,576 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than El Paso
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than El Paso
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Median Home Value
$241k less
$159,300 vs $400,400
McKinney
Median Income
$57,576
$113,286 vs $55,710/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
58% lower
117.3 vs 278.4 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 56.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 196,160 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 14 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 9 and McKinney wins 14. 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 El Paso to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $400,400 median home), income ($55,710 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and McKinney, TX are about 576 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.