City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 97 in Chesapeake, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 96, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Chesapeake is cheaper. Median rent is $1,586 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where Chesapeake and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 57 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,586 in Chesapeake 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. Chesapeake 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. Chesapeake at $1,586 average has pockets that run $1,386 and others at $1,986: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Chesapeake and Mckinney are 1,176 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Chesapeake to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $315 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $95,373 in Chesapeake to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $28,842 (30%).
The crime index goes from 97 in Chesapeake to 40 in Mckinney, down 57 points (59%).
The move
Mckinney and Chesapeake are 1,176 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,586 a month in Chesapeake, down $315 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $95,373 in Chesapeake, down $28,842 (23%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 97 in Chesapeake, up 57 points (143%).
Chesapeake, VA
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 Chesapeake and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Chesapeake rent is 17% cheaper than Mckinney
Chesapeake
Winner$1,586/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,586 a month in Chesapeake versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Chesapeake is 17% 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 $3,780, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Chesapeake still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Mckinney.
Planning to buy in Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
30% higher
Mckinney's median income is 30% higher than Chesapeake
Chesapeake
$95,373
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $95,373 in Chesapeake, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Mckinney (about $28,842 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. Chesapeake can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
59% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 59% lower than Chesapeake
Chesapeake
97 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 97 in Chesapeake (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% 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. Chesapeake can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Mckinney weather is 20% more comfortable than Chesapeake
Chesapeake
59°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 83/100
Mckinney
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chesapeake averages about 59°F (66°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Chesapeake averages around 59°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 20% 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 Chesapeake 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 Chesapeake
Chesapeake is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,586 a month. Choose Chesapeake 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 30% 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 59% lower than Chesapeake (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
Chesapeake carries the heavier crime signal on this page (61/100 safety vs 88/100 in Mckinney). That 27-point spread matters more than the $315 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Chesapeake rent at $1,586/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,586 in Chesapeake and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Mckinney clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Chesapeake deserves a serious look only when you already know the Chesapeake block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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