City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Mckinney is cheaper. Median rent is $1,901 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
Safety is where San Francisco and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 143 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,901 in Mckinney.
This is a genuine split. San Francisco wins on the job market and Mckinney wins on cost of living 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 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 Francisco and Mckinney are 1,481 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, down $575 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $124,215 in Mckinney, down $16,755 (12%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 40 in Mckinney, down 143 points (78%).
The move
Mckinney and San Francisco are 1,481 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $575 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $16,755 (13%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 183 in San Francisco, up 143 points (358%).
San Francisco, 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 Francisco and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
Mckinney rent is 23% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Mckinney
Winner$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,901 a month in Mckinney versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Mckinney is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $575/month back in your pocket ($6,900/year). Over five years that's $34,500 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 San Francisco, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Mckinney 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
13% higher
San Francisco's median income is 13% higher than Mckinney
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Mckinney
$124,215
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $124,215 in Mckinney, so typical pay runs 13% higher in San Francisco (about $16,755 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, San Francisco is the stronger labor market on paper. Mckinney 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 San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 183 in San Francisco (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. San Francisco can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
San Francisco and Mckinney are about even on typical weather.
San Francisco
65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mckinney
67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
San Francisco is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 13% higher here ($140,970). Start with San Francisco if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Mckinney is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 23% 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 78% lower than San Francisco (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
San Francisco carries the heavier crime signal on this page (42/100 safety vs 88/100 in Mckinney). That 46-point spread matters more than the $575 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
San Francisco still pays more locally ($140,970 median income vs $124,215), which can offset the lease if your field pays San Francisco rates.
Median income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $124,215 in Mckinney.
Pick Mckinney when you want the stronger safety signal (88/100). Otherwise, San Francisco's case rests on a San Francisco ZIP you trust at $2,476 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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