Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 10 of 19 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
McAllen
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
142,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Households earn $19,050 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 98°F
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 71°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than McAllen
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $259k less ($158,700 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $672/mo less ($955 vs $1,627)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $19,050/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$19,050
$75,376 vs $56,326/yr
McAllen
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Home Value
$259k less
$158,700 vs $417,600
McAllen
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 59 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 39 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 71.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 ✓ Larger | 142,722 |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, McAllen leads 10 of 19 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 9 and McAllen wins 10. 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 Fort Lauderdale to McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $158,700 median home), income ($75,376 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and McAllen, TX are about 1,121 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.