Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 22 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
1
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057
McAllen
Texas
22
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 98°F
Cons
Median income trails McAllen by $14,485/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than McAllen
McAllen, TX
Pros
71% less violent crime than Hartford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Households earn $14,485 more per year on average
Homes cost $40k less ($158,700 vs $198,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $199/mo less ($955 vs $1,154)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Income
$14,485
$56,326 vs $41,841/yr
McAllen
Violent Crime
71% lower
150.0 vs 515.8 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$40k less
$158,700 vs $198,900
McAllen
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 10.6% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 84.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $56,326 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 9.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 78.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 22 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 1 and McAllen wins 22. 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 Hartford to McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $158,700 median home), income ($41,841 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and McAllen, TX are about 1,804 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.