Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McKinney, TX
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 McKinney leads 18 of 23 categories
McKinney
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
Vista
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
98,392
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McKinney, TX
Pros
63% less violent crime than Vista
Homes cost $223k less ($400,400 vs $622,900)
Households earn $24,571 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Vista, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Median income trails McKinney by $24,571/yr
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
McKinney
Median Income
$24,571
$113,286 vs $88,715/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
63% lower
117.3 vs 316.4 per 100k
McKinney
Median Home Value
$223k less
$400,400 vs $622,900
McKinney
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McKinney, TX | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $400,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,740⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,286 ✓ Higher | $88,715 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 27.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 11.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 41 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCKINNEY ISD | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.4°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,160 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.9% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 23.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 11.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McKinney's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
McKinney is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 18 of 23 categories. McKinney wins 18 and Vista 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($400,400 vs $622,900 median home), income ($113,286 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McKinney, TX and Vista, CA are about 1,188 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.