City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Mckinney is cheaper. Median rent is $1,901 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
Safety is where Seattle and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 212 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,030 in Seattle and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Mckinney is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Seattle 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 Seattle has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Seattle and Mckinney are 1,667 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, down $129 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $355 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 40 in Mckinney, down 212 points (84%).
The move
Mckinney and Seattle are 1,667 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $129 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $123,860 in Seattle, down $355 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 252 in Seattle, up 212 points (530%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Mckinney rent is 6% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
Mckinney
Winner$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,901 a month in Mckinney versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Mckinney is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $129, or $1,548 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
1% higher
Mckinney's median income is 1% higher than Seattle
Seattle
$123,860
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $123,860 in Seattle, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Mckinney (about $355 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
84% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 84% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 84% 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. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Mckinney weather is 39% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Mckinney
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Seattle averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Mckinney sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Mckinney scores 39% 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 Seattle 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 Seattle
On these five categories Mckinney takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Seattle because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Seattle 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 plus year-round outdoor access
Mckinney is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 1% higher ($124,215), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°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 84% lower than Seattle (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 32/100 in Seattle). Typical rent is $1,901 in Mckinney and $2,030 in Seattle; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (88/100 in Mckinney vs 32/100 in Seattle), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,901 in Mckinney and $2,030 in Seattle.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Mckinney; Seattle only makes sense when you have walked the Seattle ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $2,030 rent.
Common questions
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