Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 17 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438
McKinney
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $267k less ($133,800 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $696/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,740)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $57,166/yr
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 3.7%)
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $57,166 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Kansas City
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Kansas City
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$267k less
$133,800 vs $400,400
McKinney
Median Income
$57,166
$113,286 vs $56,120/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
89% lower
117.3 vs 1047.2 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.0% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 17 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 6 and McKinney 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 Kansas City to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $400,400 median home), income ($56,120 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and McKinney, TX are about 423 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.