City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Mckinney.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
The income gap between New Orleans and Mckinney is significant: $56,631 median household versus $124,215. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,901 in Mckinney.
This is a genuine split. New Orleans 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. New Orleans at $1,251 average has pockets that run $1,051 and others at $1,651: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
New Orleans and Mckinney are 445 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $650 a month (52%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $67,584 (119%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 40 in Mckinney, down 310 points (89%).
The move
Mckinney and New Orleans are 445 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $650 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $67,584 (54%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 350 in New Orleans, up 310 points (775%).
New Orleans, LA
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 New Orleans and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
34% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 34% cheaper than Mckinney
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so New Orleans is 34% cheaper. That's roughly $650/month back in your pocket ($7,800/year). Over five years that's $39,000 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, New Orleans 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
119% higher
Mckinney's median income is 119% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 119% higher in Mckinney (about $67,584 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. New Orleans can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
89% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 89% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 89% 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. New Orleans can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
New Orleans and Mckinney are about even on typical weather.
New Orleans
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mckinney
67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). New Orleans 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 New Orleans
New Orleans is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 34% cheaper here at about $1,251 a month. Choose New Orleans 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 119% 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 89% lower than New Orleans (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 22/100 in New Orleans). Typical rent is $1,901 in Mckinney and $1,251 in New Orleans; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Mckinney is ahead on safety (88/100 vs 22/100); New Orleans is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,251/month rent plus $56,631 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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