City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 231 in Cincinnati, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 237, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cincinnati is cheaper. Median rent is $1,001 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
The income gap between Cincinnati and Mckinney is significant: $52,909 median household versus $124,215. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,001 in Cincinnati 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. Cincinnati 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. Cincinnati at $1,001 average has pockets that run $801 and others at $1,401: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Cincinnati and Mckinney are 789 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,001 a month in Cincinnati to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $900 a month (90%).
Median household income goes from $52,909 in Cincinnati to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $71,306 (135%).
The crime index goes from 231 in Cincinnati to 40 in Mckinney, down 191 points (83%).
The move
Mckinney and Cincinnati are 789 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,001 a month in Cincinnati, down $900 a month (47%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $52,909 in Cincinnati, down $71,306 (57%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 231 in Cincinnati, up 191 points (478%).
Cincinnati, OH
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 Cincinnati and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
47% cheaper
Cincinnati rent is 47% cheaper than Mckinney
Cincinnati
Winner$1,001/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,001 a month in Cincinnati versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Cincinnati is 47% cheaper. That's roughly $900/month back in your pocket ($10,800/year). Over five years that's $54,000 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, Cincinnati 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
135% higher
Mckinney's median income is 135% higher than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
$52,909
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $52,909 in Cincinnati, so typical pay runs 135% higher in Mckinney (about $71,306 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. Cincinnati can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
83% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 83% lower than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
231 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 231 in Cincinnati (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 83% 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. Cincinnati can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Mckinney weather is 52% more comfortable than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
53°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 66/100
Mckinney
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cincinnati averages about 53°F (62°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Cincinnati averages around 53°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 52% 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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati
Cincinnati is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 47% cheaper here at about $1,001 a month. Choose Cincinnati 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 135% 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 83% lower than Cincinnati (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
Cincinnati carries the heavier crime signal on this page (35/100 safety vs 88/100 in Mckinney). That 53-point spread matters more than the $900 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Mckinney still pays more locally ($124,215 median income vs $52,909), which can offset the lease if your field pays Mckinney rates.
Median income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $52,909 in Cincinnati.
Mckinney clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Cincinnati deserves a serious look only when you already know the Cincinnati block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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