Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 13 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $221k less ($158,700 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $770/mo less ($955 vs $1,725)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 56°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $38,036/yr
Richardson, TX
Pros
Households earn $38,036 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than McAllen
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Home Value
$221k less
$158,700 vs $379,800
McAllen
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 94.3°F
Richardson
Median Income
$38,036
$94,362 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 | 39 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 13 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 13 and Richardson wins 10. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $379,800 median home), income ($56,326 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Richardson, TX are about 475 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.