Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 McAllen leads 16 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $184k less ($158,700 vs $343,000)
77% less violent crime than Redding
Rent averages $323/mo less ($955 vs $1,278)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Redding
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Redding by $10,997/yr
Redding, CA
Pros
Households earn $10,997 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,000
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than McAllen
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
77% lower
150.0 vs 647.8 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$184k less
$158,700 vs $343,000
McAllen
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Redding
Median Income
$10,997
$67,323 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $343,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,278 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $67,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 41.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 16 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 16 and Redding wins 7. 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $343,000 median home), income ($56,326 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Redding, CA are about 1,699 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.