Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Victorville, CA
🏆 McAllen leads 17 of 22 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
Victorville
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,746 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
134,417
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($158,700 vs $300,600)
85% less violent crime than Victorville
Rent averages $506/mo less ($955 vs $1,461)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Victorville
Cons
Median income trails Victorville by $9,420/yr
Victorville, CA
Pros
Households earn $9,420 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,461/mo
Violent crime (1015.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than McAllen
Higher unemployment (10.3% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
85% lower
150.0 vs 1015.6 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$142k less
$158,700 vs $300,600
McAllen
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 10.3% unemployment
Victorville
Median Income
$9,420
$65,746 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Victorville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $300,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,461⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $65,746 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 40.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% ✓ Higher | 77.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Victor Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 58.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F | 97.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" | 5.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 ✓ Larger | 134,417 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% | 59.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.3% | 30.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Victorville's 107.9 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, McAllen leads 17 of 22 categories. McAllen wins 17 and Victorville wins 5. 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 Victorville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $300,600 median home), income ($56,326 vs $65,746), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Victorville, CA are about 1,272 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.