City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 241, using 2022 FBI data for Orlando and 2024-2025 FBI data for Mckinney.
Orlando is cheaper. Median rent is $1,747 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where Orlando and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 202 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,747 in Orlando and $1,901 in Mckinney.
This is a genuine split. Orlando 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 crime gap is citywide. Mckinney has rougher pockets and Orlando has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Orlando and Mckinney are 958 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $154 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $51,879 (72%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 40 in Mckinney, down 202 points (83%).
The move
Mckinney and Orlando are 958 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,747 a month in Orlando, down $154 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $72,336 in Orlando, down $51,879 (42%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 242 in Orlando, up 202 points (505%).
Orlando, FL
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 Orlando and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Orlando rent is 8% cheaper than Mckinney
Orlando
Winner$1,747/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,747 a month in Orlando versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Orlando is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $154, or $1,848 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
72% higher
Mckinney's median income is 72% higher than Orlando
Orlando
$72,336
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 72% higher in Mckinney (about $51,879 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. Orlando can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
83% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 83% lower than Orlando
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 83% 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. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Orlando and Mckinney are about even on typical weather.
Orlando
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mckinney
67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Orlando averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Orlando sits near 71°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 Orlando
Orlando is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,747 a month. Choose Orlando 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 72% 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 83% lower than Orlando (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 33/100 in Orlando, with typical rent at $1,901 versus $1,747. I would vet the exact ZIP in Orlando before trading 55 safety points for housing savings.
Orlando rent at $1,747/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,747 in Orlando and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Pick Mckinney when you want the stronger safety signal (88/100). Otherwise, Orlando's case rests on a Orlando ZIP you trust at $1,747 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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