Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 15 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
McKinney
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Rent averages $164/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,740)
Homes cost $32k less ($368,800 vs $400,400)
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $41,919/yr
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than McKinney
McKinney, TX
Pros
86% less violent crime than Lancaster
Households earn $41,919 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$32k less
$368,800 vs $400,400
Lancaster
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 94.2°F
McKinney
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
McKinney
Median Income
$41,919
$113,286 vs $71,367/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
86% lower
117.3 vs 834.7 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 56.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 27.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
McKinney is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 15 of 23 categories. Lancaster wins 8 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 Lancaster to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $400,400 median home), income ($71,367 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and McKinney, TX are about 1,235 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.