City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Nashville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,586 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where Nashville and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 242 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,586 in Nashville 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. Nashville 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. Nashville at $1,586 average has pockets that run $1,386 and others at $1,986: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Nashville and Mckinney are 595 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $315 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $46,844 (61%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 40 in Mckinney, down 242 points (86%).
The move
Mckinney and Nashville are 595 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,586 a month in Nashville, down $315 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $77,371 in Nashville, down $46,844 (38%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 282 in Nashville, up 242 points (605%).
Nashville, TN
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 Nashville and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Nashville rent is 17% cheaper than Mckinney
Nashville
Winner$1,586/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,586 a month in Nashville versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Nashville is 17% 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 $3,780, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Nashville 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 Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
61% higher
Mckinney's median income is 61% higher than Nashville
Nashville
$77,371
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $77,371 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 61% higher in Mckinney (about $46,844 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. Nashville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
86% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 86% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 86% 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. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
17% more comfortable
Mckinney weather is 17% more comfortable than Nashville
Nashville
59°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 83/100
Mckinney
Winner64°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 97/100
Nashville averages about 59°F (69°F highs); Mckinney averages about 64°F (72°F highs). Nashville averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Mckinney averages around 64°F. Mckinney scores 17% 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 Nashville 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 Nashville
Nashville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,586 a month. Choose Nashville 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 61% higher ($124,215), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 64°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 86% lower than Nashville (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 28/100 in Nashville). Typical rent is $1,901 in Mckinney and $1,586 in Nashville; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Nashville rent at $1,586/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,586 in Nashville and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Between Nashville and Mckinney, Mckinney is ahead on safety — 88/100 safety versus 28/100. Lean Nashville instead when you already know the Nashville block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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