Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McKinney, TX
VS
Miami Gardens, FL
🏆 McKinney leads 17 of 23 categories
McKinney
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
Miami Gardens
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High
Population
111,618
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $57,215 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Miami Gardens
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Homes cost $101k less ($299,700 vs $400,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 56°F
Rent averages $157/mo less ($1,583 vs $1,740)
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $57,215/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 3.7%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than McKinney
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
McKinney
Median Income
$57,215
$113,286 vs $56,071/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
72% lower
117.3 vs 414.6 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.9% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 89.6°F
Miami Gardens
Median Home Value
$101k less
$299,700 vs $400,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McKinney, TX | Miami Gardens, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $400,400⚠ High | $299,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,740⚠ High | $1,583⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,286 ✓ Higher | $56,071 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 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 | 109⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 82.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCKINNEY ISD | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.4°F | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,160 ✓ Larger | 111,618 |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 38.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.9% ✓ Higher | 64.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McKinney's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
McKinney is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 17 of 23 categories. McKinney wins 17 and Miami Gardens 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 McKinney to Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($400,400 vs $299,700 median home), income ($113,286 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McKinney, TX and Miami Gardens, FL are about 1,105 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.