Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 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
Sunnyvale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1522k less ($158,700 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $2035/mo less ($955 vs $2,990)
39% less violent crime than Sunnyvale
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $118,180/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $118,180 more per year on average
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than McAllen
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
39% lower
150.0 vs 244.5 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$1522k less
$158,700 vs $1,680,700
McAllen
Summer Heat
20.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$118,180
$174,506 vs $56,326/yr
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 13 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 13 and Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($56,326 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Sunnyvale, CA are about 1,588 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.