City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 148 in Bakersfield, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where Bakersfield and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 108 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Bakersfield and $1,901 in Mckinney.
This is a genuine split. Bakersfield 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. Bakersfield at $1,472 average has pockets that run $1,272 and others at $1,872: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Bakersfield and Mckinney are 1,285 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $429 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $43,675 (54%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 40 in Mckinney, down 108 points (73%).
The move
Mckinney and Bakersfield are 1,285 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $429 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $80,540 in Bakersfield, down $43,675 (35%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 148 in Bakersfield, up 108 points (270%).
Bakersfield, CA
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 Bakersfield and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 23% cheaper than Mckinney
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Bakersfield is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $429/month back in your pocket ($5,148/year). Over five years that's $25,740 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, Bakersfield 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
54% higher
Mckinney's median income is 54% higher than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
$80,540
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $80,540 in Bakersfield, so typical pay runs 54% higher in Mckinney (about $43,675 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. Bakersfield can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
73% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 73% lower than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
148 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 148 in Bakersfield (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 73% 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. Bakersfield can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Bakersfield and Mckinney are about even on typical weather.
Bakersfield
73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mckinney
67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°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 Bakersfield
Bakersfield is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 23% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Bakersfield 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 54% 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 73% lower than Bakersfield (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
Safety is the widest gap: Mckinney scores 88/100 versus 48/100 in Bakersfield. Rent is $1,901/month in Mckinney and $1,472/month in Bakersfield, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Bakersfield rent at $1,472/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,472 in Bakersfield and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Mckinney is ahead on safety (88/100 vs 48/100); Bakersfield is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,472/month rent plus $80,540 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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