Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McKinney, TX
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 McKinney leads 18 of 23 categories
McKinney
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335
Violent Crime Index
60
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McKinney, TX
Pros
Homes cost $448k less ($400,400 vs $848,200)
48% less violent crime than Orange
Rent averages $408/mo less ($1,740 vs $2,148)
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.7%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Orange, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than McKinney
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
McKinney
Median Income
$3,951
$113,286 vs $109,335/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
48% lower
117.3 vs 226.1 per 100k
McKinney
Median Home Value
$448k less
$400,400 vs $848,200
McKinney
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.7% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McKinney, TX | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $400,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,740⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,286 ✓ Higher | $109,335 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 61 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCKINNEY ISD | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.4°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,160 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.9% ✓ Higher | 58.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McKinney's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
McKinney is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 18 of 23 categories. McKinney wins 18 and Orange 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($400,400 vs $848,200 median home), income ($113,286 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McKinney, TX and Orange, CA are about 1,220 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.