Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Spring Valley, NV
🏆 McAllen leads 12 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
142,722
Spring Valley
Nevada
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,341 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
220,114 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($158,700 vs $375,200)
Rent averages $568/mo less ($955 vs $1,523)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Spring Valley
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails Spring Valley by $13,015/yr
Spring Valley, NV
Pros
37% less violent crime than McAllen
Households earn $13,015 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $375,200
Higher rents — median is $1,523/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than McAllen
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Home Value
$217k less
$158,700 vs $375,200
McAllen
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
Spring Valley
Median Income
$13,015
$69,341 vs $56,326/yr
Spring Valley
Violent Crime
37% lower
94.1 vs 150.0 per 100k
Spring Valley
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 97.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Spring Valley, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $375,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,523⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $69,341 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" | 6.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 220,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 49.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Spring Valley's 102.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 12 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 12 and Spring 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 Spring Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $375,200 median home), income ($56,326 vs $69,341), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Spring Valley, NV are about 1,213 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.