City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 62 in Virginia Beach, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 29, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Virginia Beach is cheaper. Median rent is $1,714 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
Safety is where Virginia Beach and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 22 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,714 in Virginia Beach 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. Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Virginia Beach and Mckinney are 1,192 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $187 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $31,247 (34%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 40 in Mckinney, down 22 points (35%).
The move
Mckinney and Virginia Beach are 1,192 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, down $187 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, down $31,247 (25%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 62 in Virginia Beach, up 22 points (55%).
Virginia Beach, VA
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 Virginia Beach and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Virginia Beach rent is 10% cheaper than Mckinney
Virginia Beach
Winner$1,714/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Virginia Beach is 10% 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 $2,244, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Virginia Beach 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 Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
34% higher
Mckinney's median income is 34% higher than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
$92,968
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $92,968 in Virginia Beach, so typical pay runs 34% higher in Mckinney (about $31,247 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. Virginia Beach can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
35% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 35% lower than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
62 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 62 in Virginia Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% 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. Virginia Beach can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Mckinney weather is 20% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Mckinney
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Virginia Beach averages around 59°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 20% 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 Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,714 a month. Choose Virginia Beach 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 34% 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 35% lower than Virginia Beach (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 75/100 in Virginia Beach). Typical rent is $1,901 in Mckinney and $1,714 in Virginia Beach; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Virginia Beach rent at $1,714/month is still below Mckinney's $1,901, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Virginia Beach and 67°F in Mckinney.
Between Virginia Beach and Mckinney, Mckinney is ahead on safety — 88/100 safety versus 75/100. Lean Virginia Beach instead when you already know the Virginia Beach block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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