Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Macon-Bibb County, GA
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 16 of 22 categories
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554 ✓ Larger
McAllen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails McAllen by $7,429/yr
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.4%)
McAllen, TX
Pros
90% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $7,429 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 59°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Income
$7,429
$56,326 vs $48,897/yr
McAllen
Violent Crime
90% lower
150.0 vs 1497.8 per 100k
McAllen
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 93.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County, GA | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $155,200 ✓ Lower | $158,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $967 | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,897 | $56,326 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 9.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 309⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 394⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.9% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bibb County | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,554 ✓ Larger | 142,722 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Macon-Bibb County's cost of living index is 90.0 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, McAllen leads 16 of 22 categories. Macon-Bibb County wins 6 and McAllen wins 16. 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 Macon-Bibb County to McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,200 vs $158,700 median home), income ($48,897 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Macon-Bibb County, GA and McAllen, TX are about 985 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.