City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
The income gap between Milwaukee and Mckinney is significant: $54,234 median household versus $124,215. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,059 in Milwaukee and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Mckinney is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Milwaukee 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. Milwaukee at $1,059 average has pockets that run $859 and others at $1,459: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Milwaukee and Mckinney are 827 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $842 a month (80%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $69,981 (129%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 40 in Mckinney, down 226 points (85%).
The move
Mckinney and Milwaukee are 827 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $842 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $69,981 (56%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 266 in Milwaukee, up 226 points (565%).
Milwaukee, 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 Milwaukee and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
44% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 44% cheaper than Mckinney
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Milwaukee is 44% cheaper. That's roughly $842/month back in your pocket ($10,104/year). Over five years that's $50,520 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, Milwaukee 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
129% higher
Mckinney's median income is 129% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 129% higher in Mckinney (about $69,981 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. Milwaukee can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
85% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 85% lower than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 85% 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. Milwaukee can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Mckinney weather is 39% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Mckinney
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 55°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 39% 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 Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee
Milwaukee is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 44% cheaper here at about $1,059 a month. Choose Milwaukee 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 129% 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 85% lower than Milwaukee (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Mckinney leads on safety (88/100 vs 30/100 in Milwaukee). Typical rent is $1,901 in Mckinney and $1,059 in Milwaukee; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Milwaukee rent at $1,059/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,059 in Milwaukee and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Between Milwaukee and Mckinney, Mckinney is ahead on safety — 88/100 safety versus 30/100. Lean Milwaukee instead when you already know the Milwaukee block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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