City comparison
Mckinney is safer than Irving. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 99 in Irving, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 78, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Irving is cheaper. Median rent is $1,619 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where Irving and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 59 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,619 in Irving and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Irving costs less and Mckinney pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Mckinney has rougher pockets and Irving has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Irving and Mckinney are 33 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $282 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $42,385 (52%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 40 in Mckinney, down 59 points (60%).
The move
Mckinney and Irving are 33 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,619 a month in Irving, down $282 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $81,830 in Irving, down $42,385 (34%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 99 in Irving, up 59 points (148%).
Irving, 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 Irving and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Irving rent is 15% cheaper than Mckinney
Irving
Winner$1,619/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,619 a month in Irving versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Irving is 15% 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 $3,384, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Irving 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 Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
52% higher
Mckinney's median income is 52% higher than Irving
Irving
$81,830
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $81,830 in Irving, so typical pay runs 52% higher in Mckinney (about $42,385 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. Irving can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
60% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 60% lower than Irving
Irving
99 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 99 in Irving (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 60% 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. Irving can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Irving weather is 3% more comfortable than Mckinney
Irving
Winner72°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mckinney
64°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 97/100
Irving averages about 72°F (80°F highs); Mckinney averages about 64°F (72°F highs). Irving sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Mckinney averages around 64°F. Irving scores 3% 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 Mckinney if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Irving is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,619 a month. Choose Irving if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Irving if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (72°F) beat Mckinney on this page's weather index by 3%. Mckinney may pay more or cost less, but Irving is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 52% 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 60% lower than Irving (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 60/100 in Irving, with typical rent at $1,901 versus $1,619. I would vet the exact ZIP in Irving before trading 28 safety points for housing savings.
Irving rent at $1,619/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,619 in Irving and $1,901 in Mckinney.
If safety drives your move, Mckinney is the stronger match (88/100 safety versus 60/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Irving, treat $1,619/month rent and $81,830 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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