Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McKinney, TX
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,323
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $45,963 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Redding
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 100°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Redding, CA
Pros
Rent averages $462/mo less ($1,278 vs $1,740)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Homes cost $57k less ($343,000 vs $400,400)
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $45,963/yr
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.7%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Median Income
$45,963
$113,286 vs $67,323/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
82% lower
117.3 vs 647.8 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Redding
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Redding
Median Home Value
$57k less
$343,000 vs $400,400
Redding
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 94.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McKinney, TX | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $400,400⚠ High | $343,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,740⚠ High | $1,278 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,286 ✓ Higher | $67,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCKINNEY ISD | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.4°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,160 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.9% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McKinney's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Redding is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 13 of 23 categories. McKinney wins 13 and Redding 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($400,400 vs $343,000 median home), income ($113,286 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McKinney, TX and Redding, CA are about 1,502 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.