Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McKinney, TX
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 McKinney leads 14 of 23 categories
McKinney
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McKinney, TX
Pros
75% less violent crime than Tempe
Households earn $41,264 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 106°F
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $268/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,740)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 56°F
Homes cost $18k less ($382,100 vs $400,400)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $41,264/yr
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Median Income
$41,264
$113,286 vs $72,022/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
75% lower
117.3 vs 470.3 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Home Value
$18k less
$382,100 vs $400,400
Tempe
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 94.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McKinney, TX | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $400,400⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,740⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,286 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | A (125) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCKINNEY ISD | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.4°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,160 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.9% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 10.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McKinney's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 14 of 23 categories. McKinney wins 14 and Tempe wins 9. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($400,400 vs $382,100 median home), income ($113,286 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McKinney, TX and Tempe, AZ are about 881 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.