City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Mckinney is cheaper. Median rent is $1,901 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
Safety is where Oakland and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 394 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,979 in Oakland and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Mckinney is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Oakland 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 crime gap is citywide. Mckinney has rougher pockets and Oakland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oakland and Mckinney are 1,473 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, down $78 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $22,615 (22%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 40 in Mckinney, down 394 points (91%).
The move
Mckinney and Oakland are 1,473 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $78 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $101,600 in Oakland, down $22,615 (18%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 434 in Oakland, up 394 points (985%).
Oakland, CA
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 Oakland and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Mckinney rent is 4% cheaper than Oakland
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Mckinney
Winner$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,901 a month in Mckinney versus $1,979 in Oakland, so Mckinney is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $78, or $936 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
22% higher
Mckinney's median income is 22% higher than Oakland
Oakland
$101,600
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $101,600 in Oakland, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Mckinney (about $22,615 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. Oakland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
91% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 91% lower than Oakland
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 91% 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. Oakland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Oakland and Mckinney are about even on typical weather.
Oakland
68°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mckinney
67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oakland averages about 68°F (80°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Oakland sits near 68°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 Oakland
On these five categories Mckinney takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Oakland because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Oakland only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Mckinney is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $1,901 a month. Choose Mckinney if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Mckinney is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 22% 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 91% lower than Oakland (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 15/100 in Oakland). Typical rent is $1,901 in Mckinney and $1,979 in Oakland; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $78 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,901 in Mckinney and $1,979 in Oakland.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Mckinney; Oakland only makes sense when you have walked the Oakland ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,979 rent.
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 Oakland and Mckinney, plus other cities in CA and TX.
