City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Aurora is cheaper. Median rent is $1,835 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where Aurora and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 172 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,835 in Aurora 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. Aurora 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 Aurora has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Aurora and Mckinney are 641 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $66 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $35,847 (41%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 40 in Mckinney, down 172 points (81%).
The move
Mckinney and Aurora are 641 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,835 a month in Aurora, down $66 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $88,368 in Aurora, down $35,847 (29%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 212 in Aurora, up 172 points (430%).
Aurora, CO
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 Aurora and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Aurora rent is 3% cheaper than Mckinney
Aurora
Winner$1,835/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,835 a month in Aurora versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Aurora is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $66, or $792 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
41% higher
Mckinney's median income is 41% higher than Aurora
Aurora
$88,368
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $88,368 in Aurora, so typical pay runs 41% higher in Mckinney (about $35,847 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. Aurora can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
81% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 81% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 81% 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. Aurora 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 Aurora
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Mckinney
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Aurora 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 Aurora 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 Aurora
Aurora is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,835 a month. Choose Aurora 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 41% 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 81% lower than Aurora (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Mckinney leads on safety (88/100 vs 37/100 in Aurora). Typical rent is $1,901 in Mckinney and $1,835 in Aurora; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Aurora rent at $1,835/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Aurora and 67°F in Mckinney.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Mckinney; Aurora only makes sense when you have walked the Aurora ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,835 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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