Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Grand Prairie, TX
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 13 of 22 categories
Grand Prairie
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,626
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
197,279 ✓ Larger
McKinney
Texas
13
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.
Grand Prairie, TX
Pros
Homes cost $158k less ($242,900 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $359/mo less ($1,381 vs $1,740)
Violent crime is well below the national average (221.2 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $36,660/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.7%)
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $36,660 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Grand Prairie
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Prairie
Median Home Value
$158k less
$242,900 vs $400,400
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.3 on the COL index
McKinney
Median Income
$36,660
$113,286 vs $76,626/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
47% lower
117.3 vs 221.2 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Grand Prairie, TX | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,900 ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,381⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,626 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.9% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.3% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GRAND PRAIRIE ISD | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.3°F ✓ Warmer | 56.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 197,279 ✓ Larger | 196,160 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.2% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.6% ✓ More | 27.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.3% | 10.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Prairie'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 13 of 22 categories. Grand Prairie wins 9 and McKinney wins 13. 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 Grand Prairie to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,900 vs $400,400 median home), income ($76,626 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Grand Prairie, TX and McKinney, TX are about 41 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.