City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 90 in Laredo, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 99, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
The income gap between Laredo and Mckinney is significant: $63,915 median household versus $124,215. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,030 in Laredo and $1,901 in Mckinney.
This is a genuine split. Laredo 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. Laredo at $1,030 average has pockets that run $830 and others at $1,430: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Laredo and Mckinney are 429 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $871 a month (85%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $60,300 (94%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 40 in Mckinney, down 50 points (56%).
The move
Mckinney and Laredo are 429 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $871 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $63,915 in Laredo, down $60,300 (49%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 90 in Laredo, up 50 points (125%).
Laredo, 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 Laredo and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
46% cheaper
Laredo rent is 46% cheaper than Mckinney
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Laredo is 46% cheaper. That's roughly $871/month back in your pocket ($10,452/year). Over five years that's $52,260 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, Laredo 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
94% higher
Mckinney's median income is 94% higher than Laredo
Laredo
$63,915
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 94% higher in Mckinney (about $60,300 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. Laredo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
56% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 56% lower than Laredo
Laredo
90 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 90 in Laredo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 56% 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. Laredo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Laredo and Mckinney are about even on typical weather.
Laredo
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mckinney
67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Laredo sits near 73°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 Laredo
Laredo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 46% cheaper here at about $1,030 a month. Choose Laredo 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 94% 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 56% lower than Laredo (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: Laredo at $1,030/month versus $1,901 in Mckinney ($871 apart). Mckinney median income is $124,215 against $63,915 in Laredo, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Laredo rent at $1,030/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 $63,915 in Laredo.
Laredo clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Mckinney deserves a serious look only when your $124,215 income offer in Mckinney outweighs saving $871/month in Laredo.
Common questions
Ready to move to Mckinney?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Mckinney when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Laredo and Mckinney, plus other cities in TX.
