Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McKinney, TX
VS
Pomona, 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
Pomona
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McKinney, TX
Pros
84% less violent crime than Pomona
Households earn $39,771 more per year on average
Homes cost $124k less ($400,400 vs $524,700)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Pomona, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Rent averages $109/mo less ($1,631 vs $1,740)
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $39,771/yr
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
McKinney
Median Income
$39,771
$113,286 vs $73,515/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
84% lower
117.3 vs 715.9 per 100k
McKinney
Median Home Value
$124k less
$400,400 vs $524,700
McKinney
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.5% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McKinney, TX | Pomona, 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 | $524,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,740⚠ High | $1,631⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,286 ✓ Higher | $73,515 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 18.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCKINNEY ISD | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.4°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" | 14.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,160 ✓ Larger | 149,831 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.9% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 24.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McKinney's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Pomona'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 Pomona 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 Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($400,400 vs $524,700 median home), income ($113,286 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McKinney, TX and Pomona, CA are about 1,213 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.