City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Denver is cheaper. Median rent is $1,831 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where Denver and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 231 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver 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. Denver 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 Denver has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Denver and Mckinney are 648 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $70 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $29,497 (31%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 40 in Mckinney, down 231 points (85%).
The move
Mckinney and Denver are 648 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,831 a month in Denver, down $70 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $94,718 in Denver, down $29,497 (24%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 271 in Denver, up 231 points (578%).
Denver, 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 Denver and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Denver rent is 4% cheaper than Mckinney
Denver
Winner$1,831/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,831 a month in Denver versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Denver is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $70, or $840 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
31% higher
Mckinney's median income is 31% higher than Denver
Denver
$94,718
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $94,718 in Denver, so typical pay runs 31% higher in Mckinney (about $29,497 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. Denver can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
85% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 85% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 85% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Mckinney weather is 28% more comfortable than Denver
Denver
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Mckinney
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Denver averages about 57°F (66°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Denver averages around 57°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 28% 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 Denver 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 Denver
Denver is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $1,831 a month. Choose Denver 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 31% 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 85% lower than Denver (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 30/100 in Denver). Typical rent is $1,901 in Mckinney and $1,831 in Denver; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Denver rent at $1,831/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 57°F in Denver and 67°F in Mckinney.
Between Denver and Mckinney, Mckinney is ahead on safety — 88/100 safety versus 30/100. Lean Denver instead when you already know the Denver block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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