City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 61 in Chandler, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 38, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Mckinney is cheaper. Median rent is $1,901 a month versus $1,902 in Chandler.
Safety is where Chandler and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 21 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,902 in Chandler and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Mckinney is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Chandler 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 Chandler has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Chandler and Mckinney are 879 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,902 a month in Chandler to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, down $1 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $108,095 in Chandler to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $16,120 (15%).
The crime index goes from 61 in Chandler to 40 in Mckinney, down 21 points (34%).
The move
Mckinney and Chandler are 879 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,902 a month in Chandler, up $1 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $108,095 in Chandler, down $16,120 (13%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 61 in Chandler, up 21 points (53%).
Chandler, AZ
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 Chandler and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Mckinney rent is 1% cheaper than Chandler
Chandler
$1,902/mo
Mckinney
Winner$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,901 a month in Mckinney versus $1,902 in Chandler, so Mckinney is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $1, or $12 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
15% higher
Mckinney's median income is 15% higher than Chandler
Chandler
$108,095
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $108,095 in Chandler, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Mckinney (about $16,120 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. Chandler can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
34% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 34% lower than Chandler
Chandler
61 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 61 in Chandler (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% 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. Chandler can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Chandler weather is 3% more comfortable than Mckinney
Chandler
Winner75°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mckinney
64°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 97/100
Chandler averages about 75°F (81°F highs); Mckinney averages about 64°F (72°F highs). Chandler sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Mckinney averages around 64°F. Chandler scores 3% 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 Mckinney if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Chandler if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (75°F) beat Mckinney on this page's weather index by 3%. Mckinney may pay more or cost less, but Chandler is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Mckinney is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% 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.
Mckinney is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% 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 34% lower than Chandler (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 75/100 in Chandler). With rent tied near $1,901/month, do not assume either lease buys the calmer blocks.
Median income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $108,095 in Chandler — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Weather averages land near 75°F in Chandler and 64°F in Mckinney.
Mckinney is ahead on safety (88/100 vs 75/100); Chandler is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,902/month rent plus $108,095 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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