City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 73 in Boise, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 85, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
The income gap between Boise and Mckinney is significant: $83,904 median household versus $124,215. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,446 in Boise 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. Boise 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Boise at $1,446 average has pockets that run $1,246 and others at $1,846: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Boise and Mckinney are 1,277 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $455 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $40,311 (48%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 40 in Mckinney, down 33 points (45%).
The move
Mckinney and Boise are 1,277 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $455 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $83,904 in Boise, down $40,311 (32%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 73 in Boise, up 33 points (83%).
Boise, ID
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 Boise and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
Boise rent is 24% cheaper than Mckinney
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Boise is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $455/month back in your pocket ($5,460/year). Over five years that's $27,300 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, Boise 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
48% higher
Mckinney's median income is 48% higher than Boise
Boise
$83,904
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $83,904 in Boise, so typical pay runs 48% higher in Mckinney (about $40,311 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. Boise can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
45% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 45% lower than Boise
Boise
73 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 73 in Boise (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% 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. Boise 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 Boise
Boise
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Mckinney
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise averages about 61°F (70°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Boise 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 Boise 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 Boise
Boise is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 24% cheaper here at about $1,446 a month. Choose Boise 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 48% 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 45% lower than Boise (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
Boise carries the heavier crime signal on this page (70/100 safety vs 88/100 in Mckinney). That 18-point spread matters more than the $455 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Boise rent at $1,446/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,446 in Boise and $1,901 in Mckinney.
If safety drives your move, Mckinney is the stronger match (88/100 safety versus 70/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Boise, treat $1,446/month rent and $83,904 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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