Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 McAllen leads 14 of 22 categories
McAllen
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($158,700 vs $351,400)
87% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Rent averages $437/mo less ($955 vs $1,392)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashville-Davidson
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $15,002/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.6%)
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Households earn $15,002 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
87% lower
150.0 vs 1124.1 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$193k less
$158,700 vs $351,400
McAllen
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 89.3°F
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$15,002
$71,328 vs $56,326/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $351,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $71,328 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% | 15.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 296⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 45.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 4.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 684,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, McAllen leads 14 of 22 categories. McAllen wins 14 and Nashville-Davidson wins 8. 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 McAllen to Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $351,400 median home), income ($56,326 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 963 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.