Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
McAllen
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $145k less ($158,700 vs $304,000)
Rent averages $774/mo less ($955 vs $1,729)
36% less violent crime than San Tan Valley
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than San Tan Valley
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $32,140/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.5%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Households earn $32,140 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.5%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than McAllen
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
36% lower
150.0 vs 235.7 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$145k less
$158,700 vs $304,000
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$32,140
$88,466 vs $56,326/yr
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 97.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.3% | 28.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. McAllen wins 11 and San Tan Valley wins 11. 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $304,000 median home), income ($56,326 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 931 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.