City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 106 in San Diego, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 114, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Mckinney is cheaper. Median rent is $1,901 a month versus $2,313 in San Diego.
Safety is where San Diego and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 66 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,313 in San Diego and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Mckinney is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. San Diego 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. Mckinney at $1,901 average has pockets that run $1,701 and others at $2,301: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Diego and Mckinney are 1,190 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,313 a month in San Diego to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, down $412 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $108,077 in San Diego to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $16,138 (15%).
The crime index goes from 106 in San Diego to 40 in Mckinney, down 66 points (62%).
The move
Mckinney and San Diego are 1,190 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $2,313 a month in San Diego, up $412 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $108,077 in San Diego, down $16,138 (13%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 106 in San Diego, up 66 points (165%).
San Diego, 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 San Diego and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Mckinney rent is 18% cheaper than San Diego
San Diego
$2,313/mo
Mckinney
Winner$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,901 a month in Mckinney versus $2,313 in San Diego, so Mckinney is 18% 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 $4,944, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Mckinney still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in San Diego.
Planning to buy in Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Mckinney's median income is 15% higher than San Diego
San Diego
$108,077
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $108,077 in San Diego, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Mckinney (about $16,138 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. San Diego can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
62% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 62% lower than San Diego
San Diego
106 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 106 in San Diego (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% 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. San Diego can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
San Diego and Mckinney are about even on typical weather.
San Diego
74°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mckinney
67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Diego averages about 74°F (78°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). San Diego sits near 74°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 San Diego
On these five categories Mckinney takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose San Diego because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose San Diego only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Mckinney is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,901 a month. Choose Mckinney if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Mckinney is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% 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 62% lower than San Diego (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 58/100 in San Diego, with typical rent at $1,901 versus $2,313. I would vet the exact ZIP in San Diego before trading 30 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (88/100 in Mckinney vs 58/100 in San Diego), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $108,077 in San Diego.
If safety drives your move, Mckinney is the stronger match (88/100 safety versus 58/100). If an employer or family tie already points to San Diego, treat $2,313/month rent and $108,077 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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