Head-to-Head · City Comparison
League City, TX
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 12 of 23 categories
League City
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$117,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
113,469
McAllen
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
League City, TX
Pros
Households earn $60,990 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than McAllen
Violent crime is well below the national average (103.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 48.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,500
Higher rents — median is $1,598/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than McAllen
Longer commutes — 29.5 min average each way
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $154k less ($158,700 vs $312,500)
Rent averages $643/mo less ($955 vs $1,598)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than League City
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Median income trails League City by $60,990/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
League City
Median Income
$60,990
$117,316 vs $56,326/yr
League City
Violent Crime
31% lower
103.5 vs 150.0 per 100k
League City
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.4% unemployment
McAllen
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Home Value
$154k less
$158,700 vs $312,500
McAllen
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 91.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | League City, TX | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,500⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,598⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $117,316 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 38 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 39 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 55 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CLEAR CREEK ISD | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.8°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.4" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,469 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
League City's cost of living index is 100.2 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 12 of 23 categories. League City wins 11 and McAllen wins 12. 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 League City to McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,500 vs $158,700 median home), income ($117,316 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
League City, TX and McAllen, TX are about 296 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.