Dayton OH vs McKinney TX — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Dayton, OH

Ohio · Population: 136,741

  • Median HH Income$43,454
  • Median Home Price$138,867
  • Unemployment9.7%
  • Bachelor's+20.7%

McKinney, TX

Texas · Population: 148,848

  • Median HH Income$71,843
  • Median Home Price$487,346
  • Unemployment4.8%
  • Bachelor's+18.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Dayton
136,741
McKinney
148,848
McKinney +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Dayton
N/A
McKinney
N/A
Median Age
Dayton
34.2
McKinney
33.4
McKinney +
Foreign Born
Dayton
5.0%
McKinney
21.0%
McKinney +
White
Dayton
51.3%
Dayton +
McKinney
37.8%
Black
Dayton
38.0%
Dayton +
McKinney
24.7%
Asian
Dayton
1.2%
McKinney
3.0%
McKinney +
Hispanic
Dayton
5.5%
McKinney
44.7%
McKinney +
Spanish at Home
Dayton
N/A
McKinney
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Dayton
$43,454
McKinney
$71,843
McKinney +
Per Capita Income
Dayton
$26,381
McKinney
$29,291
McKinney +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Dayton
$58,300
McKinney
$63,758
McKinney +
Unemployment Rate
Dayton
9.7%
McKinney
4.8%
McKinney +
Poverty Rate
Dayton
27.1%
McKinney
12.4%
McKinney +
Bachelor's Degree+
Dayton
20.7%
Dayton +
McKinney
18.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Dayton
$138,867
Dayton +
McKinney
$487,346
Homeownership Rate
Dayton
48.2%
McKinney
63.2%
McKinney +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Dayton
319
Dayton +
McKinney
442
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Dayton
1866
Dayton +
McKinney
2339

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Dayton
42.9%
McKinney
33.9%
McKinney +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Dayton
17.6%
McKinney
9.1%
McKinney +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Dayton
21.6%
McKinney
15.7%
McKinney +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Dayton
11.2%
McKinney
10.9%
McKinney +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Dayton
14.6%
Dayton +
McKinney
18.3%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Dayton
20.5%
McKinney
9.9%
McKinney +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Dayton
54.1°F
Dayton +
McKinney
64.2°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Dayton
40.3 in
McKinney
40.0 in
McKinney +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Dayton
10.3 µg/m³
McKinney
9.2 µg/m³
McKinney +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Dayton
55.0%
McKinney
55.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Dayton
22.2 min
Dayton +
McKinney
35.6 min

Which City is Right for You?

McKinney leads in median household income at $71,843, while dayton offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $138,867. On public safety, Dayton is safer with a violent crime rate of 319 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in McKinney. McKinney has a lower unemployment rate at 4.8%, and McKinney has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, McKinney scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.9%.

Compare More Cities

About Dayton & McKinney