Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Escondido, CA
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 18 of 23 categories
Escondido
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,554
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
151,114
McKinney
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Escondido, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,400
Median income trails McKinney by $35,732/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than McKinney
McKinney, TX
Pros
73% less violent crime than Escondido
Homes cost $216k less ($400,400 vs $616,400)
Households earn $35,732 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
McKinney
Median Income
$35,732
$113,286 vs $77,554/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
73% lower
117.3 vs 433.5 per 100k
McKinney
Median Home Value
$216k less
$400,400 vs $616,400
McKinney
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.3% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 87.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Escondido, CA | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,400⚠ High | $400,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,833⚠ High | $1,740⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,554 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.6% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.1% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Escondido Union | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 56.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.9" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 151,114 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.8% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Escondido's cost of living index is 111.5 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
McKinney is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 18 of 23 categories. Escondido wins 5 and McKinney wins 18. 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 Escondido to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,400 vs $400,400 median home), income ($77,554 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Escondido, CA and McKinney, TX are about 1,179 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.