City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where Dallas and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 148 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Dallas and $1,901 in Mckinney.
This is a genuine split. Dallas wins on cost of living and Mckinney wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Dallas at $1,472 average has pockets that run $1,272 and others at $1,872: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Dallas and Mckinney are 31 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $429 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $53,697 (76%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 40 in Mckinney, down 148 points (79%).
The move
Mckinney and Dallas are 31 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $429 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $70,518 in Dallas, down $53,697 (43%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 188 in Dallas, up 148 points (370%).
Dallas, TX
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 Dallas and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
Dallas rent is 23% cheaper than Mckinney
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Dallas is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $429/month back in your pocket ($5,148/year). Over five years that's $25,740 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, Dallas 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
76% higher
Mckinney's median income is 76% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 76% higher in Mckinney (about $53,697 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. Dallas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
79% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 79% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 79% 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. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Dallas and Mckinney are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mckinney
67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Mckinney sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Dallas
Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 23% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas 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 and professional growth
Mckinney is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 76% 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 79% lower than Dallas (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
Dallas carries the heavier crime signal on this page (41/100 safety vs 88/100 in Mckinney). That 47-point spread matters more than the $429 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Dallas rent at $1,472/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,472 in Dallas and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Pick Mckinney when you want the stronger safety signal (88/100). Otherwise, Dallas's case rests on a Dallas ZIP you trust at $1,472 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 Dallas and Mckinney, plus other cities in TX.
