City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Atlanta is cheaper. Median rent is $1,711 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where Atlanta and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 157 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,711 in Atlanta and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Mckinney is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Atlanta makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Mckinney is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Mckinney has rougher pockets and Atlanta has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Atlanta and Mckinney are 705 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $190 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $38,563 (45%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 40 in Mckinney, down 157 points (80%).
The move
Mckinney and Atlanta are 705 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, down $190 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $85,652 in Atlanta, down $38,563 (31%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 197 in Atlanta, up 157 points (393%).
Atlanta, GA
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 Atlanta and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Atlanta rent is 10% cheaper than Mckinney
Atlanta
Winner$1,711/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Atlanta versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Atlanta is 10% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,280, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Atlanta still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Mckinney.
Planning to buy in Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
45% higher
Mckinney's median income is 45% higher than Atlanta
Atlanta
$85,652
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $85,652 in Atlanta, so typical pay runs 45% higher in Mckinney (about $38,563 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. Atlanta can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
80% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 80% lower than Atlanta
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 80% 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. Atlanta can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Mckinney weather is 12% more comfortable than Atlanta
Atlanta
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Mckinney
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Atlanta averages around 61°F. Mckinney sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Mckinney scores 12% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Atlanta if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Atlanta
Atlanta is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,711 a month. Choose Atlanta 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 45% higher ($124,215), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Mckinney is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 80% lower than Atlanta (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Mckinney: Mckinney scores 88/100 versus 39/100 in Atlanta, with typical rent at $1,901 versus $1,711. I would vet the exact ZIP in Atlanta before trading 49 safety points for housing savings.
Atlanta rent at $1,711/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,711 in Atlanta and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Mckinney clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Atlanta deserves a serious look only when you already know the Atlanta block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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