Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Pueblo, CO
🏆 McAllen leads 17 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Pueblo
Colorado
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$52,794
Violent Crime Index
375⚠ High
Population
111,430
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
89% less violent crime than Pueblo
Homes cost $39k less ($158,700 vs $197,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Pueblo, CO
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Violent crime (1424.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4942.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.4%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than McAllen
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Income
$3,532
$56,326 vs $52,794/yr
McAllen
Violent Crime
89% lower
150.0 vs 1424.1 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$39k less
$158,700 vs $197,700
McAllen
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 93.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Pueblo, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 92.4 |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $197,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 | $940 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 ✓ Higher | $52,794 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 319⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 375⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 21.8% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 93.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 ✓ Larger | 111,430 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 59.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Pueblo's 92.4 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 17 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 17 and Pueblo wins 6. 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 Pueblo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $197,700 median home), income ($56,326 vs $52,794), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Pueblo, CO are about 911 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.