City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where Durham and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 153 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,508 in Durham 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. Durham 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. Durham at $1,508 average has pockets that run $1,308 and others at $1,908: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Durham and Mckinney are 1,024 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $393 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $42,596 (52%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 40 in Mckinney, down 153 points (79%).
The move
Mckinney and Durham are 1,024 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $393 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $81,619 in Durham, down $42,596 (34%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 193 in Durham, up 153 points (383%).
Durham, NC
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 Durham and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Durham rent is 21% cheaper than Mckinney
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Durham is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $393/month back in your pocket ($4,716/year). Over five years that's $23,580 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, Durham 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
52% higher
Mckinney's median income is 52% higher than Durham
Durham
$81,619
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 52% higher in Mckinney (about $42,596 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. Durham 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 Durham
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 193 in Durham (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. Durham 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 Durham
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Mckinney
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Durham 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 Durham 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 Durham
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 21% cheaper here at about $1,508 a month. Choose Durham 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 52% 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 79% lower than Durham (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 40/100 in Durham). Typical rent is $1,901 in Mckinney and $1,508 in Durham; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Durham rent at $1,508/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,508 in Durham and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Mckinney is ahead on safety (88/100 vs 40/100); Durham is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,508/month rent plus $81,619 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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