City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 233 in Stockton, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Stockton is cheaper. Median rent is $1,577 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where Stockton and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 193 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,577 in Stockton and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Stockton 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Stockton at $1,577 average has pockets that run $1,377 and others at $1,977: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Stockton and Mckinney are 1,421 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $324 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $44,308 (55%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 40 in Mckinney, down 193 points (83%).
The move
Mckinney and Stockton are 1,421 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,577 a month in Stockton, down $324 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $79,907 in Stockton, down $44,308 (36%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 233 in Stockton, up 193 points (483%).
Stockton, 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 Stockton and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Stockton rent is 17% cheaper than Mckinney
Stockton
Winner$1,577/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,577 a month in Stockton versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Stockton is 17% 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 $3,888, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Stockton 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 Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
55% higher
Mckinney's median income is 55% higher than Stockton
Stockton
$79,907
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $79,907 in Stockton, so typical pay runs 55% higher in Mckinney (about $44,308 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. Stockton can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
83% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 83% lower than Stockton
Stockton
233 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 233 in Stockton (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 83% 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. Stockton can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Stockton weather is 3% more comfortable than Mckinney
Stockton
Winner67°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mckinney
64°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 97/100
Stockton averages about 67°F (78°F highs); Mckinney averages about 64°F (72°F highs). Stockton sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Mckinney averages around 64°F. Stockton 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
Stockton is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,577 a month. Choose Stockton if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Stockton if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (67°F) beat Mckinney on this page's weather index by 3%. Mckinney may pay more or cost less, but Stockton 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 55% 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 83% lower than Stockton (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
Stockton carries the heavier crime signal on this page (34/100 safety vs 88/100 in Mckinney). That 54-point spread matters more than the $324 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Stockton rent at $1,577/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,577 in Stockton and $1,901 in Mckinney.
If safety drives your move, Mckinney is the stronger match (88/100 safety versus 34/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Stockton, treat $1,577/month rent and $79,907 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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