City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 62 in Plano, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 43, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Plano is cheaper. Median rent is $1,841 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where Plano and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 22 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,841 in Plano and $1,901 in Mckinney.
This is a genuine split. Plano 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 Plano has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Plano and Mckinney are 13 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $60 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $11,962 (11%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 40 in Mckinney, down 22 points (35%).
The move
Mckinney and Plano are 13 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,841 a month in Plano, down $60 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $112,253 in Plano, down $11,962 (10%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 62 in Plano, up 22 points (55%).
Plano, TX
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 Plano and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Plano rent is 3% cheaper than Mckinney
Plano
Winner$1,841/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,841 a month in Plano versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Plano is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $60, or $720 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
11% higher
Mckinney's median income is 11% higher than Plano
Plano
$112,253
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $112,253 in Plano, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Mckinney (about $11,962 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. Plano can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
35% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 35% lower than Plano
Plano
62 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 62 in Plano (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% 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. Plano can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Plano and Mckinney are about even on typical weather.
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mckinney
67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Plano sits near 69°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 Plano
Plano is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,841 a month. Choose Plano 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 11% 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 35% lower than Plano (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 75/100 in Plano). Typical rent is $1,901 in Mckinney and $1,841 in Plano; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Plano rent at $1,841/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,841 in Plano and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Between Plano and Mckinney, Mckinney is ahead on safety — 88/100 safety versus 75/100. Lean Plano instead when you already know the Plano block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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