Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 McAllen leads 15 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Raleigh
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $188k less ($158,700 vs $347,000)
69% less violent crime than Raleigh
Rent averages $416/mo less ($955 vs $1,371)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Raleigh
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 52°F
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $22,305/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.5%)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $22,305 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than McAllen
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
69% lower
150.0 vs 488.8 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$188k less
$158,700 vs $347,000
McAllen
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 90.6°F
Raleigh
Median Income
$22,305
$78,631 vs $56,326/yr
Raleigh
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 15 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 15 and Raleigh wins 8. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $347,000 median home), income ($56,326 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Raleigh, NC are about 1,333 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.