Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McKinney, TX
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 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
Reading
Pennsylvania
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
94,601
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $70,434 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.6 pts lower (3.7%)
65% less violent crime than Reading
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 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Reading
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $304k less ($96,900 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $798/mo less ($942 vs $1,740)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $70,434/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Median Income
$70,434
$113,286 vs $42,852/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
65% lower
117.3 vs 337.2 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
7.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 11.3% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 86.5°F
Reading
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Median Home Value
$304k less
$96,900 vs $400,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McKinney, TX | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $400,400⚠ High | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,740⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,286 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 68 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCKINNEY ISD | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,160 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.9% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
McKinney's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, McKinney leads 17 of 22 categories. McKinney wins 17 and Reading 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($400,400 vs $96,900 median home), income ($113,286 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McKinney, TX and Reading, PA are about 1,245 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.