City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 223 in Washington, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 243, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Mckinney is cheaper. Median rent is $1,901 a month versus $1,954 in Washington.
Safety is where Washington and Mckinney split most clearly. Mckinney scores 183 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,954 in Washington and $1,901 in Mckinney.
Mckinney is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Washington 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 Washington has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Washington and Mckinney are 1,160 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,954 a month in Washington to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, down $53 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $109,870 in Washington to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $14,345 (13%).
The crime index goes from 223 in Washington to 40 in Mckinney, down 183 points (82%).
The move
Mckinney and Washington are 1,160 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,954 a month in Washington, up $53 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $109,870 in Washington, down $14,345 (12%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 223 in Washington, up 183 points (458%).
Washington, DC
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 Washington and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Mckinney rent is 3% cheaper than Washington
Washington
$1,954/mo
Mckinney
Winner$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,901 a month in Mckinney versus $1,954 in Washington, so Mckinney is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $53, or $636 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
13% higher
Mckinney's median income is 13% higher than Washington
Washington
$109,870
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $109,870 in Washington, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Mckinney (about $14,345 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. Washington can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
82% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 82% lower than Washington
Washington
223 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 223 in Washington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 82% 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. Washington can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Mckinney weather is 39% more comfortable than Washington
Washington
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Mckinney
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Washington averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Mckinney averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Washington averages around 55°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 39% 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 Washington 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 Washington
On these five categories Mckinney takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Washington because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Washington only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Mckinney is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,901 a month. Choose Mckinney if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 13% 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 82% lower than Washington (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Mckinney: Mckinney scores 88/100 versus 36/100 in Washington, with typical rent at $1,901 versus $1,954. I would vet the exact ZIP in Washington before trading 52 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (88/100 in Mckinney vs 36/100 in Washington), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $109,870 in Washington.
Pick Mckinney when you want the stronger safety signal (88/100). Otherwise, Washington's case rests on a Washington ZIP you trust at $1,954 rent.
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