Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McKinney, TX
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 McKinney leads 17 of 22 categories
McKinney
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
153,487
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McKinney, TX
Pros
72% less violent crime than Murfreesboro
Households earn $42,835 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
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Rent averages $468/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,740)
Homes cost $73k less ($327,400 vs $400,400)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $42,835/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Median Income
$42,835
$113,286 vs $70,451/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
72% lower
117.3 vs 420.0 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.3% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 89.2°F
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$73k less
$327,400 vs $400,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McKinney, TX | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $400,400⚠ High | $327,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,740⚠ High | $1,272 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,286 ✓ Higher | $70,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCKINNEY ISD | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,160 ✓ Larger | 153,487 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.9% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
McKinney's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, McKinney leads 17 of 22 categories. McKinney wins 17 and Murfreesboro 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 McKinney to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($400,400 vs $327,400 median home), income ($113,286 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McKinney, TX and Murfreesboro, TN are about 611 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.