City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 47 in Gilbert, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 37, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Mckinney is cheaper. Median rent is $1,901 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Gilbert and Mckinney are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $2,110 in Gilbert and $1,901 in Mckinney, and median household income lands at $122,551 versus $124,215. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Mckinney is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Gilbert 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Gilbert and Mckinney are 876 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, down $209 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $1,664 (1%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 40 in Mckinney, down 7 points (15%).
The move
Mckinney and Gilbert are 876 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $209 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $122,551 in Gilbert, down $1,664 (1%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 47 in Gilbert, up 7 points (18%).
Gilbert, AZ
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 Gilbert and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Mckinney rent is 10% cheaper than Gilbert
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Mckinney
Winner$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,901 a month in Mckinney versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Mckinney is 10% 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 $2,508, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Mckinney still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Gilbert.
Planning to buy in Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Mckinney's median income is 1% higher than Gilbert
Gilbert
$122,551
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $122,551 in Gilbert, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Mckinney (about $1,664 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
15% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 15% lower than Gilbert
Gilbert
47 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 47 in Gilbert (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% lower in Mckinney. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Mckinney, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Gilbert. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Gilbert and Mckinney are about even on typical weather.
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mckinney
67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Gilbert sits near 80°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 Gilbert
On these five categories Mckinney takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Gilbert because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Gilbert only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Mckinney is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,901 a month. Choose Mckinney if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Mckinney is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% 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 15% lower than Gilbert (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
Weather separates these metros: $2,110/month rent in Gilbert at 80°F versus $1,901 in Mckinney at 67°F. Income runs $122,551 vs $124,215, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Typical rent stays $1,901 in Mckinney and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Gilbert; Mckinney only makes sense when 67°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Safety scores read 83/100 in Gilbert and 88/100 in Mckinney.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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