City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 135 in Fort Worth, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 95 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,901 in Mckinney.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth 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. Fort Worth at $1,509 average has pockets that run $1,309 and others at $1,909: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Mckinney are 52 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $392 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $44,708 (56%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 40 in Mckinney, down 95 points (70%).
The move
Mckinney and Fort Worth are 52 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $392 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $79,507 in Fort Worth, down $44,708 (36%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 135 in Fort Worth, up 95 points (238%).
Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 21% cheaper than Mckinney
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Fort Worth is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $392/month back in your pocket ($4,704/year). Over five years that's $23,520 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 Worth 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
56% higher
Mckinney's median income is 56% higher than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$79,507
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $79,507 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 56% higher in Mckinney (about $44,708 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 Worth can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
70% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 70% lower than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
135 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 135 in Fort Worth (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 70% 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 Worth can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Fort Worth and Mckinney are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mckinney
67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°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 Fort Worth
Fort Worth is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 21% cheaper here at about $1,509 a month. Choose Fort Worth 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 56% 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 70% lower than Fort Worth (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
Safety is the widest gap: Mckinney scores 88/100 versus 51/100 in Fort Worth. Rent is $1,901/month in Mckinney and $1,509/month in Fort Worth, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Fort Worth rent at $1,509/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Mckinney is ahead on safety (88/100 vs 51/100); Fort Worth is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,509/month rent plus $79,507 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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