Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greensboro, NC
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 15 of 22 categories
Greensboro
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$55,051
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
McAllen
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326 ✓ Higher
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.
Greensboro, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 39.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 98°F
Cons
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than McAllen
McAllen, TX
Pros
84% less violent crime than Greensboro
Homes cost $39k less ($158,700 vs $197,200)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 50°F
Rent averages $93/mo less ($955 vs $1,048)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Income
$1,275
$56,326 vs $55,051/yr
McAllen
Violent Crime
84% lower
150.0 vs 923.7 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$39k less
$158,700 vs $197,200
McAllen
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greensboro, NC | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,048 | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,051 | $56,326 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 210⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 161⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.9% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.1" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 297,202 ✓ Larger | 142,722 |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.6% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.6% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greensboro's cost of living index is 92.7 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, McAllen leads 15 of 22 categories. Greensboro wins 7 and McAllen wins 15. 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 Greensboro to McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $158,700 median home), income ($55,051 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greensboro, NC and McAllen, TX are about 1,282 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.