Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 13 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Overland Park
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49
Population
196,676 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($158,700 vs $361,800)
Rent averages $423/mo less ($955 vs $1,378)
19% less violent crime than Overland Park
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Median income trails Overland Park by $44,550/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.2%)
Overland Park, KS
Pros
Households earn $44,550 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $361,800
Higher rents — median is $1,378/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than McAllen
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
19% lower
150.0 vs 184.4 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$203k less
$158,700 vs $361,800
McAllen
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 88.2°F
Overland Park
Median Income
$44,550
$100,876 vs $56,326/yr
Overland Park
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $361,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,378⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $100,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 49 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 196,676 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 13 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 10 and Overland Park wins 13. 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 Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $361,800 median home), income ($56,326 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Overland Park, KS are about 899 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.