Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 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
Oakland
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $725k less ($158,700 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $894/mo less ($955 vs $1,849)
92% less violent crime than Oakland
33% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $38,063/yr
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,063 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Cost of living runs 33% higher than McAllen
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
33% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
92% lower
150.0 vs 1925.3 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$725k less
$158,700 vs $883,800
McAllen
Summer Heat
25.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$38,063
$94,389 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 85.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 33% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 14 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 14 and Oakland 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $883,800 median home), income ($56,326 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Oakland, CA are about 1,609 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.