Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McKinney, TX
VS
Sunnyvale, 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
Sunnyvale
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McKinney, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1280k less ($400,400 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1250/mo less ($1,740 vs $2,990)
52% less violent crime than Sunnyvale
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $61,220/yr
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $61,220 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than McKinney
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
McKinney
Violent Crime
52% lower
117.3 vs 244.5 per 100k
McKinney
Median Home Value
$1280k less
$400,400 vs $1,680,700
McKinney
Summer Heat
17.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$61,220
$174,506 vs $113,286/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McKinney, TX | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $400,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,740⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,286 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.2% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCKINNEY ISD | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.4°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,160 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.9% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McKinney's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
McKinney is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 15 of 23 categories. McKinney wins 15 and Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($400,400 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($113,286 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McKinney, TX and Sunnyvale, CA are about 1,455 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.