City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 166 in St Paul, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 160, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where St Paul and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 126 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,281 in St Paul 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 Paul 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 Paul at $1,281 average has pockets that run $1,081 and others at $1,681: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
St Paul and Mckinney are 833 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $620 a month (48%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $50,821 (69%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 40 in Mckinney, down 126 points (76%).
The move
Mckinney and St Paul are 833 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $620 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $73,394 in St Paul, down $50,821 (41%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 166 in St Paul, up 126 points (315%).
St Paul, MN
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 Paul and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
33% cheaper
St Paul rent is 33% cheaper than Mckinney
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so St Paul is 33% cheaper. That's roughly $620/month back in your pocket ($7,440/year). Over five years that's $37,200 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 Paul 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
69% higher
Mckinney's median income is 69% higher than St Paul
St Paul
$73,394
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 69% higher in Mckinney (about $50,821 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 Paul can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
76% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 76% lower than St Paul
St Paul
166 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 166 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 76% 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 Paul can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Mckinney weather is 72% more comfortable than St Paul
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Mckinney
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). St Paul averages around 50°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 72% 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 Paul 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 Paul
St Paul is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 33% cheaper here at about $1,281 a month. Choose St Paul 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 69% 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 76% lower than St Paul (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
St Paul carries the heavier crime signal on this page (45/100 safety vs 88/100 in Mckinney). That 43-point spread matters more than the $620 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
St Paul rent at $1,281/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,281 in St Paul and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Mckinney clears the bar on safety in this dataset. St Paul deserves a serious look only when you already know the St Paul block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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