Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 13 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
McKinney
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $236k less ($164,400 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $772/mo less ($968 vs $1,740)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $52,358/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.7%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $52,358 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Laredo
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Laredo
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$236k less
$164,400 vs $400,400
Laredo
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 94.2°F
McKinney
Median Income
$52,358
$113,286 vs $60,928/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
68% lower
117.3 vs 365.8 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 56.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 196,160 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 27.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 10.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 13 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 10 and McKinney wins 13. 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 Laredo to McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $400,400 median home), income ($60,928 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and McKinney, TX are about 425 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.