Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McKinney, TX
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 McKinney leads 18 of 23 categories
McKinney
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $68,842 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.5 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $289k less ($111,200 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $563/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,740)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $68,842/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Median Income
$68,842
$113,286 vs $44,444/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
89% lower
117.3 vs 1025.9 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
6.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 10.2% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 86.5°F
Trenton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Median Home Value
$289k less
$111,200 vs $400,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McKinney, TX | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $400,400⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,740⚠ High | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,286 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCKINNEY ISD | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,160 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.9% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 25.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McKinney's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 18 of 23 categories. McKinney wins 18 and Trenton wins 5. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($400,400 vs $111,200 median home), income ($113,286 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McKinney, TX and Trenton, NJ are about 1,302 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.