Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 McAllen leads 18 of 23 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
Portsmouth
Virginia
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
80% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Homes cost $55k less ($158,700 vs $213,300)
Rent averages $270/mo less ($955 vs $1,225)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Portsmouth
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 98°F
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than McAllen
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
80% lower
150.0 vs 752.4 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$55k less
$158,700 vs $213,300
McAllen
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Median Income
$828
$57,154 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $213,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $57,154 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 18 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 18 and Portsmouth wins 5. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $213,300 median home), income ($56,326 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Portsmouth, VA are about 1,478 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.