City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 104 in Fort Wayne, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 84, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
The income gap between Fort Wayne and Mckinney is significant: $61,422 median household versus $124,215. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $999 in Fort Wayne 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. Fort Wayne 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. Fort Wayne at $999 average has pockets that run $799 and others at $1,399: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Wayne and Mckinney are 836 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $902 a month (90%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $62,793 (102%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 40 in Mckinney, down 64 points (62%).
The move
Mckinney and Fort Wayne are 836 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $902 a month (47%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $62,793 (51%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 104 in Fort Wayne, up 64 points (160%).
Fort Wayne, IN
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 Fort Wayne and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
47% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 47% cheaper than Mckinney
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Fort Wayne is 47% cheaper. That's roughly $902/month back in your pocket ($10,824/year). Over five years that's $54,120 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, Fort Wayne 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
102% higher
Mckinney's median income is 102% higher than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 102% higher in Mckinney (about $62,793 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. Fort Wayne can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
62% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 62% lower than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne
104 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 104 in Fort Wayne (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% 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. Fort Wayne can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Mckinney weather is 64% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Mckinney
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Fort Wayne averages around 51°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 64% 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 Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 47% cheaper here at about $999 a month. Choose Fort Wayne 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 102% 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 62% lower than Fort Wayne (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
Rent is the clearest fork: Fort Wayne at $999/month versus $1,901 in Mckinney ($902 apart). Mckinney median income is $124,215 against $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Fort Wayne rent at $999/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne.
If housing cost drives your move, Fort Wayne is the stronger match ($999/month rent against $1,901). If an employer or family tie already points to Mckinney, treat $1,901/month rent and $124,215 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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