City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
The income gap between St Louis and Mckinney is significant: $56,160 median household versus $124,215. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $997 in St Louis 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. St Louis 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. St Louis at $997 average has pockets that run $797 and others at $1,397: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
St Louis and Mckinney are 519 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $904 a month (91%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $68,055 (121%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 40 in Mckinney, down 312 points (89%).
The move
Mckinney and St Louis are 519 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $997 a month in St Louis, down $904 a month (48%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $56,160 in St Louis, down $68,055 (55%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 352 in St Louis, up 312 points (780%).
St Louis, MO
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 St Louis and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
48% cheaper
St Louis rent is 48% cheaper than Mckinney
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so St Louis is 48% cheaper. That's roughly $904/month back in your pocket ($10,848/year). Over five years that's $54,240 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 Mckinney, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Louis 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
121% higher
Mckinney's median income is 121% higher than St Louis
St Louis
$56,160
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 121% higher in Mckinney (about $68,055 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. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
89% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 89% lower than St Louis
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 89% 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. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
21% more comfortable
Mckinney weather is 21% more comfortable than St Louis
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Mckinney
Winner64°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 97/100
St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs); Mckinney averages about 64°F (72°F highs). St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Mckinney averages around 64°F. Mckinney scores 21% 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 St Louis 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 St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 48% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis 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 121% 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 89% lower than St Louis (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 22/100 in St Louis). Typical rent is $1,901 in Mckinney and $997 in St Louis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Mckinney still pays more locally ($124,215 median income vs $56,160), which can offset the lease if your field pays Mckinney rates.
Median income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $56,160 in St Louis.
Mckinney is ahead on safety (88/100 vs 22/100); St Louis is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $997/month rent plus $56,160 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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