Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 15 of 22 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
McKinney
Texas
15
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.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($234,900 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $718/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,740)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $54,436/yr
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.7%)
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $54,436 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Lafayette
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lafayette
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$166k less
$234,900 vs $400,400
McKinney
Median Income
$54,436
$113,286 vs $58,850/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
89% lower
117.3 vs 1066.1 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.1% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 56.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 42.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, McKinney leads 15 of 22 categories. Lafayette wins 7 and McKinney 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 Lafayette to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $400,400 median home), income ($58,850 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and McKinney, TX are about 342 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.