Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McKinney, TX
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 McKinney leads 17 of 23 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
Portsmouth
Virginia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $56,132 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 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)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $187k less ($213,300 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $515/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,740)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $56,132/yr
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Median Income
$56,132
$113,286 vs $57,154/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
84% lower
117.3 vs 752.4 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$187k less
$213,300 vs $400,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McKinney, TX | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $400,400⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,740⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,286 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCKINNEY ISD | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,160 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.9% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McKinney's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 17 of 23 categories. McKinney wins 17 and Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($400,400 vs $213,300 median home), income ($113,286 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McKinney, TX and Portsmouth, VA are about 1,174 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.