Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McKinney, TX
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 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
Salem
Oregon
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $45,746 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 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
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $516/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,740)
Homes cost $51k less ($349,500 vs $400,400)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $45,746/yr
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Median Income
$45,746
$113,286 vs $67,540/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
78% lower
117.3 vs 532.2 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.1% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$51k less
$349,500 vs $400,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McKinney, TX | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $400,400⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,740⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,286 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCKINNEY ISD | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,160 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.9% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McKinney's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 17 of 23 categories. McKinney wins 17 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($400,400 vs $349,500 median home), income ($113,286 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McKinney, TX and Salem, OR are about 1,619 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.