McKinney, TX Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for McKinney, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in McKinney →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
With a population near 196,160, McKinney, Texas sits above the multi-city income median: households earn a typical $113,286 per year (+57% vs. that benchmark).
Home values in McKinney run a median $400,400, above the benchmark across cities in our dataset (+23%). Renters see a median monthly cost of $1,740. Mortgage rates and property taxes are worth checking before you commit either way.
McKinney's home-price-to-income ratio of about 3.5× is fairly typical — housing costs track reasonably in line with local pay. The market has cooled around McKinney: home prices are down about 0.75% compared with a year ago. FEMA classifies McKinney's hazard risk as Relatively High. That elevated rating is a major driver of home insurance premiums in the area.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,740/mo in McKinney would take 18.4% of your income.
$1,092/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($400,400) would take 22.6% of your income toward principal & interest.
$506/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in McKinney
Median home value is $400,400 and median gross rent is $1,740/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Collin fell 0.75% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,931/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates McKinney's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
McKinney reported a violent crime rate of 114.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to McKinney
Planning a move to McKinney? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in McKinney, TX?
- In McKinney, the median home value is $400,400 and median rent is $1,740 per month, against a median household income of $113,286. These figures come from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in McKinney?
- Comfortably affording rent in McKinney — where the median runs $1,740/month — typically means earning about $69,600 a year, per the standard 30%-of-income benchmark. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for McKinney.
- Is it better to rent or buy in McKinney?
- Renting in McKinney at the median $1,740/month calls for about $69,600 a year under the standard 30% guideline; buying the median home at $400,400 takes roughly $91,609 a year in principal and interest (20% down, 30-year fixed, current rates). Timeline and down payment usually decide which makes more sense.
- Is McKinney safe?
- Per FBI Crime Data Explorer figures, McKinney's violent crime rate was 114.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025.
See the full salary breakdown for McKinney →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of McKinney's.