City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Albuquerque is cheaper. Median rent is $1,145 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where Albuquerque and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 253 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,145 in Albuquerque and $1,901 in Mckinney.
This is a genuine split. Albuquerque wins on cost of living and Mckinney wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Albuquerque at $1,145 average has pockets that run $945 and others at $1,545: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Albuquerque and Mckinney are 588 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $756 a month (66%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $55,898 (82%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 40 in Mckinney, down 253 points (86%).
The move
Mckinney and Albuquerque are 588 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, down $756 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $68,317 in Albuquerque, down $55,898 (45%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 293 in Albuquerque, up 253 points (633%).
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Mckinney, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Albuquerque and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
40% cheaper
Albuquerque rent is 40% cheaper than Mckinney
Albuquerque
Winner$1,145/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Albuquerque versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Albuquerque is 40% cheaper. That's roughly $756/month back in your pocket ($9,072/year). Over five years that's $45,360 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Mckinney, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Albuquerque is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
82% higher
Mckinney's median income is 82% higher than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
$68,317
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $68,317 in Albuquerque, so typical pay runs 82% higher in Mckinney (about $55,898 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Mckinney is the stronger labor market on paper. Albuquerque can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
86% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 86% lower than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 86% lower in Mckinney. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Mckinney is the easier city. Albuquerque can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Albuquerque and Mckinney are about even on typical weather.
Albuquerque
65°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mckinney
67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Albuquerque averages about 65°F (72°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Albuquerque sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Mckinney sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Albuquerque
Albuquerque is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 40% cheaper here at about $1,145 a month. Choose Albuquerque if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Mckinney is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 82% higher here ($124,215). Start with Mckinney if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Mckinney is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 86% lower than Albuquerque (40 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Albuquerque carries the heavier crime signal on this page (27/100 safety vs 88/100 in Mckinney). That 61-point spread matters more than the $756 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Mckinney still pays more locally ($124,215 median income vs $68,317), which can offset the lease if your field pays Mckinney rates.
Median income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $68,317 in Albuquerque.
Mckinney clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Albuquerque deserves a serious look only when you already know the Albuquerque block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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