City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 165 in St Petersburg, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 167, using 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg and 2024-2025 FBI data for Mckinney.
St Petersburg is cheaper. Median rent is $1,663 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where St Petersburg and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 125 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,663 in St Petersburg and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Petersburg costs less and Mckinney pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Mckinney has rougher pockets and St Petersburg has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
St Petersburg and Mckinney are 905 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $238 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $49,023 (65%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 40 in Mckinney, down 125 points (76%).
The move
Mckinney and St Petersburg are 905 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, down $238 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $75,192 in St Petersburg, down $49,023 (39%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 165 in St Petersburg, up 125 points (313%).
St Petersburg, FL
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 Petersburg and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
St Petersburg rent is 13% cheaper than Mckinney
St Petersburg
Winner$1,663/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,663 a month in St Petersburg versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so St Petersburg is 13% 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 $2,856, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Petersburg still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Mckinney.
Planning to buy in St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
65% higher
Mckinney's median income is 65% higher than St Petersburg
St Petersburg
$75,192
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $75,192 in St Petersburg, so typical pay runs 65% higher in Mckinney (about $49,023 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 Petersburg 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 Petersburg
St Petersburg
165 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 165 in St Petersburg (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 Petersburg can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
St Petersburg weather is 3% more comfortable than Mckinney
St Petersburg
Winner71°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mckinney
64°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 97/100
St Petersburg averages about 71°F (76°F highs); Mckinney averages about 64°F (72°F highs). St Petersburg sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Mckinney averages around 64°F. St Petersburg scores 3% 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 Mckinney if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
St Petersburg is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,663 a month. Choose St Petersburg if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick St Petersburg if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat Mckinney on this page's weather index by 3%. Mckinney may pay more or cost less, but St Petersburg is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Mckinney is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 65% 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 76% lower than St Petersburg (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 Petersburg carries the heavier crime signal on this page (45/100 safety vs 88/100 in Mckinney). That 43-point spread matters more than the $238 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
St Petersburg rent at $1,663/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,663 in St Petersburg and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Pick Mckinney when you want the stronger safety signal (88/100). Otherwise, St Petersburg's case rests on a St Petersburg ZIP you trust at $1,663 rent.
Common questions
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