City comparison
No. Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 34 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,901 in Mckinney.
The income gap between Winston Salem and Mckinney is significant: $59,268 median household versus $124,215. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,087 in Winston Salem 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. Winston Salem 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. Winston Salem at $1,087 average has pockets that run $887 and others at $1,487: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Winston Salem and Mckinney are 951 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,901 a month in Mckinney, up $814 a month (75%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $124,215 in Mckinney, up $64,947 (110%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 40 in Mckinney, down 163 points (80%).
The move
Mckinney and Winston Salem are 951 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,901 a month in Mckinney to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $814 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $124,215 in Mckinney to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $64,947 (52%).
The crime index goes from 40 in Mckinney to 203 in Winston Salem, up 163 points (408%).
Winston Salem, NC
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 Winston Salem and Mckinney? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
43% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 43% cheaper than Mckinney
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Mckinney
$1,901/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,901 in Mckinney, so Winston Salem is 43% cheaper. That's roughly $814/month back in your pocket ($9,768/year). Over five years that's $48,840 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, Winston Salem 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
110% higher
Mckinney's median income is 110% higher than Winston Salem
Winston Salem
$59,268
Mckinney
Winner$124,215
Median household income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 110% higher in Mckinney (about $64,947 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. Winston Salem can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
80% lower crime
Mckinney's crime index is 80% lower than Winston Salem
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
Mckinney
Winner40 (100 = avg)
Mckinney's crime index is 40 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 80% 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. Winston Salem can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
24% more comfortable
Mckinney weather is 24% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Winston Salem
57°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 78/100
Mckinney
Winner64°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 97/100
Winston Salem averages about 57°F (67°F highs); Mckinney averages about 64°F (72°F highs). Winston Salem averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Mckinney averages around 64°F. Mckinney scores 24% 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 Winston Salem 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 Winston Salem
Winston Salem is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 43% cheaper here at about $1,087 a month. Choose Winston Salem 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 110% higher ($124,215), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 64°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 80% lower than Winston Salem (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
Safety is the widest gap: Mckinney scores 88/100 versus 38/100 in Winston Salem. Rent is $1,901/month in Mckinney and $1,087/month in Winston Salem, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Mckinney still pays more locally ($124,215 median income vs $59,268), which can offset the lease if your field pays Mckinney rates.
Median income is $124,215 in Mckinney versus $59,268 in Winston Salem.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Mckinney; Winston Salem only makes sense when you have walked the Winston Salem ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,087 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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