City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 181 in Sacramento, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 213, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Sacramento is cheaper. Median rent is $1,779 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where Sacramento and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 141 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,779 in Sacramento and $1,901 in Mckinney.
This is a genuine split. Sacramento 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 Sacramento has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Sacramento and Mckinney are 1,437 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $122 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $36,894 (42%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 40 in Mckinney, down 141 points (78%).
The move
Mckinney and Sacramento are 1,437 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, down $122 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $87,321 in Sacramento, down $36,894 (30%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 181 in Sacramento, up 141 points (353%).
Sacramento, 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 Sacramento and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Sacramento rent is 6% cheaper than Mckinney
Sacramento
Winner$1,779/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,779 a month in Sacramento versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Sacramento is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $122, or $1,464 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
42% higher
Mckinney's median income is 42% higher than Sacramento
Sacramento
$87,321
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $87,321 in Sacramento, so typical pay runs 42% higher in Mckinney (about $36,894 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. Sacramento can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
78% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 78% lower than Sacramento
Sacramento
181 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 181 in Sacramento (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 78% 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. Sacramento can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Sacramento and Mckinney are about even on typical weather.
Sacramento
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mckinney
67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Sacramento averages about 71°F (83°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Sacramento 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 Sacramento
Sacramento is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,779 a month. Choose Sacramento 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 42% 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 78% lower than Sacramento (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 42/100 in Sacramento, with typical rent at $1,901 versus $1,779. I would vet the exact ZIP in Sacramento before trading 46 safety points for housing savings.
Sacramento rent at $1,779/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,779 in Sacramento and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Pick Mckinney when you want the stronger safety signal (88/100). Otherwise, Sacramento's case rests on a Sacramento ZIP you trust at $1,779 rent.
Common questions
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