Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 17 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
McAllen
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Households earn $6,675 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than McAllen
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $163k less ($158,700 vs $321,800)
80% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.4%)
Rent averages $272/mo less ($955 vs $1,227)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Fresno by $6,675/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Income
$6,675
$63,001 vs $56,326/yr
McAllen
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
80% lower
150.0 vs 735.5 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$163k less
$158,700 vs $321,800
McAllen
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 9.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 97.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 27.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 142,722 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 17 of 23 categories. Fresno wins 6 and McAllen wins 17. 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 Fresno to McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $158,700 median home), income ($63,001 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and McAllen, TX are about 1,459 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.