Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 McAllen leads 18 of 22 categories
McAllen
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Norman
Oklahoma
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$62,849 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
68
Population
127,701
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
42% less violent crime than Norman
Homes cost $66k less ($158,700 vs $224,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 50°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Norman
Cons
Median income trails Norman by $6,523/yr
Norman, OK
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,523 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 98°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than McAllen
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
42% lower
150.0 vs 260.2 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$66k less
$158,700 vs $224,900
McAllen
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 92.5°F
Norman
Median Income
$6,523
$62,849 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $224,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,004 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $62,849 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 22.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 68 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 37.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 4.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 ✓ Larger | 127,701 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, McAllen leads 18 of 22 categories. McAllen wins 18 and Norman wins 4. 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $224,900 median home), income ($56,326 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Norman, OK are about 625 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.