Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 14 of 22 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
924,663 ✓ 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.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($250,300 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $427/mo less ($1,313 vs $1,740)
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $40,560/yr
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.7%)
McKinney, TX
Pros
74% less violent crime than Fort Worth
Households earn $40,560 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.7%)
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Median Home Value
$150k less
$250,300 vs $400,400
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.3 on the COL index
McKinney
Median Income
$40,560
$113,286 vs $72,726/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
74% lower
117.3 vs 458.4 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 56.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 196,160 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 10.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, McKinney leads 14 of 22 categories. Fort Worth wins 8 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 Fort Worth to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $400,400 median home), income ($72,726 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and McKinney, TX are about 49 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.