City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Portland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,655 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where Portland and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 225 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,655 in Portland 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. Portland 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 Portland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Portland and Mckinney are 1,621 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $246 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $33,296 (37%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 40 in Mckinney, down 225 points (85%).
The move
Mckinney and Portland are 1,621 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,655 a month in Portland, down $246 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $90,919 in Portland, down $33,296 (27%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 265 in Portland, up 225 points (563%).
Portland, OR
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 Portland and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Portland rent is 13% cheaper than Mckinney
Portland
Winner$1,655/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,655 a month in Portland versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Portland is 13% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,952, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Portland still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Mckinney.
Planning to buy in Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
37% higher
Mckinney's median income is 37% higher than Portland
Portland
$90,919
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $90,919 in Portland, so typical pay runs 37% higher in Mckinney (about $33,296 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. Portland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
85% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 85% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 85% 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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
29% more comfortable
Mckinney weather is 29% more comfortable than Portland
Portland
56°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 75/100
Mckinney
Winner64°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 97/100
Portland averages about 56°F (64°F highs); Mckinney averages about 64°F (72°F highs). Portland averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Mckinney averages around 64°F. Mckinney scores 29% 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 Portland 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 Portland
Portland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,655 a month. Choose Portland 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 37% higher ($124,215), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 64°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 85% lower than Portland (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 30/100 in Portland, with typical rent at $1,901 versus $1,655. I would vet the exact ZIP in Portland before trading 58 safety points for housing savings.
Portland rent at $1,655/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 56°F in Portland and 64°F in Mckinney.
Pick Mckinney when you want the stronger safety signal (88/100). Otherwise, Portland's case rests on a Portland ZIP you trust at $1,655 rent.
Common questions
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