City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 158 in Pittsburgh, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 147, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
The income gap between Pittsburgh and Mckinney is significant: $65,742 median household versus $124,215. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,261 in Pittsburgh 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. Pittsburgh 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. Pittsburgh at $1,261 average has pockets that run $1,061 and others at $1,661: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Pittsburgh and Mckinney are 1,044 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $640 a month (51%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $58,473 (89%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 40 in Mckinney, down 118 points (75%).
The move
Mckinney and Pittsburgh are 1,044 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $640 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $58,473 (47%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 158 in Pittsburgh, up 118 points (295%).
Pittsburgh, PA
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 Pittsburgh and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
34% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 34% cheaper than Mckinney
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Pittsburgh is 34% cheaper. That's roughly $640/month back in your pocket ($7,680/year). Over five years that's $38,400 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, Pittsburgh 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
89% higher
Mckinney's median income is 89% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 89% higher in Mckinney (about $58,473 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. Pittsburgh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
75% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 75% lower than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
158 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 158 in Pittsburgh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 75% 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. Pittsburgh can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Mckinney weather is 64% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Mckinney
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Pittsburgh averages around 51°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 64% 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 Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 34% cheaper here at about $1,261 a month. Choose Pittsburgh 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 89% 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 75% lower than Pittsburgh (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
Pittsburgh carries the heavier crime signal on this page (46/100 safety vs 88/100 in Mckinney). That 42-point spread matters more than the $640 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Pittsburgh rent at $1,261/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,261 in Pittsburgh and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Pick Mckinney when you want the stronger safety signal (88/100). Otherwise, Pittsburgh's case rests on a Pittsburgh ZIP you trust at $1,261 rent.
Common questions
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