City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 91 in Madison, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 68, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Madison and Mckinney. Madison averages 48°F while Mckinney averages 67°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,413 versus $1,901.
Mckinney is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Madison 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.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Madison at $1,413 average has pockets that run $1,213 and others at $1,813: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Madison and Mckinney are 786 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $488 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $46,165 (59%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 40 in Mckinney, down 51 points (56%).
The move
Mckinney and Madison are 786 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $488 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $78,050 in Madison, down $46,165 (37%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 91 in Madison, up 51 points (127%).
Madison, WI
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 Madison and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
26% cheaper
Madison rent is 26% cheaper than Mckinney
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Madison is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $488/month back in your pocket ($5,856/year). Over five years that's $29,280 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, Madison 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
59% higher
Mckinney's median income is 59% higher than Madison
Madison
$78,050
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 59% higher in Mckinney (about $46,165 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. Madison 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 Madison
Madison
91 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 91 in Madison (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. Madison can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
92% more comfortable
Mckinney weather is 92% more comfortable than Madison
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Mckinney
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Madison averages around 48°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Mckinney sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Mckinney scores 92% 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 Madison if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Madison
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 26% cheaper here at about $1,413 a month. Choose Madison 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 59% higher ($124,215), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 Madison (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 63/100 in Madison, with typical rent at $1,901 versus $1,413. I would vet the exact ZIP in Madison before trading 25 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (88/100 in Mckinney vs 63/100 in Madison), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $78,050 in Madison.
If safety drives your move, Mckinney is the stronger match (88/100 safety versus 63/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Madison, treat $1,413/month rent and $78,050 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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