Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
New York, NY
🏆 McAllen leads 14 of 23 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
New York
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $573k less ($158,700 vs $732,100)
Rent averages $759/mo less ($955 vs $1,714)
78% less violent crime than New York
27% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Commutes run 20 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Median income trails New York by $20,281/yr
New York, NY
Pros
Households earn $20,281 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than McAllen
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
78% lower
150.0 vs 671.0 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$573k less
$158,700 vs $732,100
McAllen
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 84.8°F
New York
Median Income
$20,281
$76,607 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 40.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 83.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 14 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 14 and New York wins 9. 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 New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $732,100 median home), income ($56,326 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and New York, NY are about 1,711 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.