City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 87 in Garland, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 62, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
The income gap between Garland and Mckinney is significant: $76,320 median household versus $124,215. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,641 in Garland and $1,901 in Mckinney.
This is a genuine split. Garland 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 crime gap is citywide. Mckinney has rougher pockets and Garland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Garland and Mckinney are 20 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $260 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $47,895 (63%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 40 in Mckinney, down 47 points (54%).
The move
Mckinney and Garland are 20 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $260 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $76,320 in Garland, down $47,895 (39%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 87 in Garland, up 47 points (118%).
Garland, 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 Garland and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Garland rent is 14% cheaper than Mckinney
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Garland is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,120, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Garland still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Mckinney.
Planning to buy in Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
63% higher
Mckinney's median income is 63% higher than Garland
Garland
$76,320
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 63% higher in Mckinney (about $47,895 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. Garland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
54% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 54% lower than Garland
Garland
87 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 87 in Garland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 54% 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. Garland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Garland and Mckinney are about even on typical weather.
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mckinney
67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Garland 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 Garland
Garland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,641 a month. Choose Garland 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 63% 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 54% lower than Garland (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Mckinney: Mckinney scores 88/100 versus 64/100 in Garland, with typical rent at $1,901 versus $1,641. I would vet the exact ZIP in Garland before trading 24 safety points for housing savings.
Garland rent at $1,641/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,641 in Garland and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Mckinney clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Garland deserves a serious look only when you already know the Garland block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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