Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 18 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
McKinney
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
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.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $796/mo less ($944 vs $1,740)
Homes cost $109k less ($291,300 vs $400,400)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $56,405/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.7%)
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $56,405 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fayetteville
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$109k less
$291,300 vs $400,400
McKinney
Median Income
$56,405
$113,286 vs $56,881/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
72% lower
117.3 vs 423.7 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 88.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 94.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 42.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 10.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 18 of 23 categories. Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $400,400 median home), income ($56,881 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and McKinney, TX are about 244 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.