Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McKinney, TX
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 13 of 23 categories
McKinney
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160
Scottsdale
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197
Violent Crime Index
40
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McKinney, TX
Pros
Homes cost $251k less ($400,400 vs $651,800)
23% less violent crime than Scottsdale
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $9,089 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 99°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Median income trails McKinney by $9,089/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
McKinney
Median Income
$9,089
$113,286 vs $104,197/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
23% lower
117.3 vs 152.5 per 100k
McKinney
Median Home Value
$251k less
$400,400 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 94.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McKinney, TX | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $400,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,740⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,286 ✓ Higher | $104,197 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 40 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.2% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCKINNEY ISD | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.4°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,160 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.9% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McKinney's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
McKinney is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 13 of 23 categories. McKinney wins 10 and Scottsdale wins 13. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($400,400 vs $651,800 median home), income ($113,286 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McKinney, TX and Scottsdale, AZ are about 876 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.