City comparison
Mckinney is safer than Colorado Springs. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Colorado Springs is cheaper. Median rent is $1,648 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where Colorado Springs and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 160 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,648 in Colorado Springs 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. Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Colorado Springs and Mckinney are 601 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $253 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $39,397 (46%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 40 in Mckinney, down 160 points (80%).
The move
Mckinney and Colorado Springs are 601 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, down $253 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, down $39,397 (32%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 160 points (400%).
Colorado Springs, CO
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 Colorado Springs and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Colorado Springs rent is 13% cheaper than Mckinney
Colorado Springs
Winner$1,648/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Colorado Springs is 13% 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 $3,036, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Colorado Springs 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
46% higher
Mckinney's median income is 46% higher than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$84,818
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs, so typical pay runs 46% higher in Mckinney (about $39,397 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. Colorado Springs can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
80% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 80% lower than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 80% 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. Colorado Springs can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
17% more comfortable
Mckinney weather is 17% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Mckinney
Winner64°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 97/100
Colorado Springs averages about 59°F (67°F highs); Mckinney averages about 64°F (72°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Mckinney averages around 64°F. Mckinney scores 17% 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 Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,648 a month. Choose Colorado Springs 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 46% higher ($124,215), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 64°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 80% lower than Colorado Springs (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 39/100 in Colorado Springs). Typical rent is $1,901 in Mckinney and $1,648 in Colorado Springs; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Colorado Springs rent at $1,648/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,648 in Colorado Springs and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Mckinney; Colorado Springs only makes sense when you have walked the Colorado Springs ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,648 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Mckinney?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Mckinney when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Colorado Springs and Mckinney, plus other cities in CO and TX.
