Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 McAllen leads 16 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Toledo
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
86% less violent crime than Toledo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Households earn $10,921 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $60k less ($98,800 vs $158,700)
Rent averages $101/mo less ($854 vs $955)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 98°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cons
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails McAllen by $10,921/yr
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 90.4 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Income
$10,921
$56,326 vs $45,405/yr
McAllen
Violent Crime
86% lower
150.0 vs 1041.1 per 100k
McAllen
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.2% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 84.6°F
Toledo
Median Home Value
$60k less
$98,800 vs $158,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 90.4 |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 16 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 16 and Toledo wins 7. 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $98,800 median home), income ($56,326 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Toledo, OH are about 1,354 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.