Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McKinney, TX
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 McKinney leads 15 of 23 categories
McKinney
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
Metairie
Louisiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
140,046
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McKinney, TX
Pros
70% less violent crime than Metairie
Households earn $41,216 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Metairie
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Metairie, LA
Pros
Rent averages $620/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,740)
Homes cost $111k less ($289,800 vs $400,400)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $41,216/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Median Income
$41,216
$113,286 vs $72,070/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
70% lower
117.3 vs 390.1 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.3% unemployment
Metairie
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Home Value
$111k less
$289,800 vs $400,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McKinney, TX | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $400,400⚠ High | $289,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,740⚠ High | $1,120 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,286 ✓ Higher | $72,070 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 39.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCKINNEY ISD | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.4°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 91.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,160 ✓ Larger | 140,046 |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.9% ✓ Higher | 62.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McKinney's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 15 of 23 categories. McKinney wins 15 and Metairie wins 8. 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 McKinney to Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($400,400 vs $289,800 median home), income ($113,286 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McKinney, TX and Metairie, LA are about 441 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.