Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 14 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
McKinney
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Rent averages $513/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,740)
Homes cost $79k less ($321,800 vs $400,400)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $50,285/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 3.7%)
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $50,285 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Home Value
$79k less
$321,800 vs $400,400
Fresno
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 94.2°F
McKinney
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
McKinney
Median Income
$50,285
$113,286 vs $63,001/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
84% lower
117.3 vs 735.5 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 196,160 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 27.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
McKinney is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 14 of 23 categories. Fresno wins 9 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 Fresno to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $400,400 median home), income ($63,001 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and McKinney, TX are about 1,329 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.