Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 16 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ 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.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $242k less ($158,500 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $623/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,740)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $59,862/yr
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 3.7%)
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $59,862 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 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
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
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 91.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$242k less
$158,500 vs $400,400
McKinney
Median Income
$59,862
$113,286 vs $53,424/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
82% lower
117.3 vs 660.2 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 8.4% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 90.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 42.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 196,160 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 16 of 23 categories. Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $400,400 median home), income ($53,424 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and McKinney, TX are about 1,019 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.