Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 McAllen leads 12 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $333k less ($158,700 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $906/mo less ($955 vs $1,861)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 38°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $41,553/yr
Norwalk, CT
Pros
Households earn $41,553 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than McAllen
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than McAllen
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Home Value
$333k less
$158,700 vs $491,800
McAllen
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 84.8°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$41,553
$97,879 vs $56,326/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
43% lower
85.0 vs 150.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 42.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 12 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 12 and Norwalk wins 11. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $491,800 median home), income ($56,326 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Norwalk, CT are about 1,748 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.