Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McKinney, TX
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 McKinney leads 15 of 23 categories
McKinney
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,286
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McKinney, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1109k less ($400,400 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1231/mo less ($1,740 vs $2,971)
52% less violent crime than San Mateo
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $35,866/yr
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,866 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than McKinney
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
McKinney
Violent Crime
52% lower
117.3 vs 243.2 per 100k
McKinney
Median Home Value
$1109k less
$400,400 vs $1,508,900
McKinney
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.7% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
21.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$35,866
$149,152 vs $113,286/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McKinney, TX | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $400,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,740⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,286 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.2% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCKINNEY ISD | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.4°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,160 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.9% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McKinney's cost of living index is 103.3 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
McKinney is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 15 of 23 categories. McKinney wins 15 and San Mateo wins 8. 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 San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($400,400 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($113,286 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McKinney, TX and San Mateo, CA are about 1,471 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.