Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 17 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$63,056 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
62% less violent crime than Tyler
Homes cost $47k less ($158,700 vs $205,200)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $158/mo less ($955 vs $1,113)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 58°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Median income trails Tyler by $6,730/yr
Tyler, TX
Pros
Households earn $6,730 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than McAllen
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
62% lower
150.0 vs 391.2 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$47k less
$158,700 vs $205,200
McAllen
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 93.1°F
Tyler
Median Income
$6,730
$63,056 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 92.4 |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $205,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,113 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $63,056 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 57.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 93.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 17 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 17 and Tyler wins 6. 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $205,200 median home), income ($56,326 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Tyler, TX are about 457 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.