Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McKinney, TX
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 McKinney leads 13 of 23 categories
McKinney
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160
Phoenix
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McKinney, TX
Pros
85% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $41,194 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 104°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $418/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,740)
Homes cost $60k less ($340,200 vs $400,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 56°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $41,194/yr
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.7%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Median Income
$41,194
$113,286 vs $72,092/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
85% lower
117.3 vs 799.6 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.2% unemployment
Phoenix
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$60k less
$340,200 vs $400,400
Phoenix
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 94.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McKinney, TX | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $400,400⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,740⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,286 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 14.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCKINNEY ISD | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.4°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,160 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.9% ✓ Higher | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 11.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McKinney's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 13 of 23 categories. McKinney wins 13 and Phoenix wins 10. 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($400,400 vs $340,200 median home), income ($113,286 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McKinney, TX and Phoenix, AZ are about 890 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.