City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 147 in Boston, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 175, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Mckinney is cheaper. Median rent is $1,901 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Safety is where Boston and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 107 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,147 in Boston and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Mckinney is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Boston 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 Boston has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Boston and Mckinney are 1,525 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, down $246 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $26,871 (28%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 40 in Mckinney, down 107 points (73%).
The move
Mckinney and Boston are 1,525 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $246 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $97,344 in Boston, down $26,871 (22%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 147 in Boston, up 107 points (268%).
Boston, MA
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 Boston and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Mckinney rent is 11% cheaper than Boston
Boston
$2,147/mo
Mckinney
Winner$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,901 a month in Mckinney versus $2,147 in Boston, so Mckinney is 11% 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 $2,952, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Mckinney still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Boston.
Planning to buy in Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
28% higher
Mckinney's median income is 28% higher than Boston
Boston
$97,344
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $97,344 in Boston, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Mckinney (about $26,871 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. Boston 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 Boston
Boston
147 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 147 in Boston (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. Boston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Mckinney weather is 72% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
50°F avg · 56°F highs · comfort 58/100
Mckinney
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boston averages about 50°F (56°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Boston averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Mckinney sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Mckinney scores 72% 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 Boston 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 Boston
On these five categories Mckinney takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Boston because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Boston only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Mckinney is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,901 a month. Choose Mckinney if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 28% 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 73% lower than Boston (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
Boston carries the heavier crime signal on this page (48/100 safety vs 88/100 in Mckinney). That 40-point spread matters more than the $246 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (88/100 in Mckinney vs 48/100 in Boston), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $97,344 in Boston.
Pick Mckinney when you want the stronger safety signal (88/100). Otherwise, Boston's case rests on a Boston ZIP you trust at $2,147 rent.
Common questions
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