Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Stamford
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
135,413
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $426k less ($158,700 vs $584,700)
Rent averages $1174/mo less ($955 vs $2,129)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Stamford
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Stamford by $44,392/yr
Stamford, CT
Pros
Households earn $44,392 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 98°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than McAllen
Longer commutes — 27.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Home Value
$426k less
$158,700 vs $584,700
McAllen
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 84.8°F
Stamford
Median Income
$44,392
$100,718 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 41 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 ✓ Larger | 135,413 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 13 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 13 and Stamford 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $584,700 median home), income ($56,326 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Stamford, CT are about 1,742 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.