Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 McAllen leads 16 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $506k less ($158,700 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $1099/mo less ($955 vs $2,054)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
37% less violent crime than West Covina
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $39,893/yr
West Covina, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,893 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than McAllen
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
37% lower
150.0 vs 239.3 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$506k less
$158,700 vs $664,500
McAllen
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.7% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 90.3°F
West Covina
Median Income
$39,893
$96,219 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 100 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 67.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 16 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 16 and West Covina 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $664,500 median home), income ($56,326 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and West Covina, CA are about 1,291 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.