McKinney TX vs San Diego CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
McKinney, TX
Texas · Population: 148,848
- Median HH Income$71,843
- Median Home Price$487,346
- Unemployment4.8%
- Bachelor's+18.5%
San Diego, CA
California · Population: 1,385,061
- Median HH Income$104,321
- Median Home Price$1,006,261
- Unemployment5.9%
- Bachelor's+49.9%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
McKinney
148,848
San Diego
1,385,061
San Diego +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
McKinney
N/A
San Diego
N/A
Median Age
McKinney
33.4
McKinney +
San Diego
36.0
Foreign Born
McKinney
21.0%
San Diego
24.8%
San Diego +
White
McKinney
37.8%
San Diego
50.4%
San Diego +
Black
McKinney
24.7%
McKinney +
San Diego
5.7%
Asian
McKinney
3.0%
San Diego
17.6%
San Diego +
Hispanic
McKinney
44.7%
McKinney +
San Diego
29.6%
Spanish at Home
McKinney
N/A
San Diego
N/A
| Metric | McKinney, TX | San Diego, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 148,848 | 1,385,061 | San Diego + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 36.0 | McKinney + |
| Foreign Born | 21.0% | 24.8% | San Diego + |
| White | 37.8% | 50.4% | San Diego + |
| Black | 24.7% | 5.7% | McKinney + |
| Asian | 3.0% | 17.6% | San Diego + |
| Hispanic | 44.7% | 29.6% | McKinney + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
McKinney
$71,843
San Diego
$104,321
San Diego +
Per Capita Income
McKinney
$29,291
San Diego
$54,678
San Diego +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
McKinney
$63,758
San Diego
$77,230
San Diego +
Unemployment Rate
McKinney
4.8%
McKinney +
San Diego
5.9%
Poverty Rate
McKinney
12.4%
San Diego
11.1%
San Diego +
Bachelor's Degree+
McKinney
18.5%
San Diego
49.9%
San Diego +
| Metric | McKinney, TX | San Diego, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $71,843 | $104,321 | San Diego + |
| Per Capita Income | $29,291 | $54,678 | San Diego + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $63,758 | $77,230 | San Diego + |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 5.9% | McKinney + |
| Poverty Rate | 12.4% | 11.1% | San Diego + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 18.5% | 49.9% | San Diego + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
McKinney
$487,346
McKinney +
San Diego
$1,006,261
Homeownership Rate
McKinney
63.2%
McKinney +
San Diego
47.6%
| Metric | McKinney, TX | San Diego, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $487,346 | $1,006,261 | McKinney + |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% | 47.6% | McKinney + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
McKinney
442
McKinney +
San Diego
503
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
McKinney
2339
McKinney +
San Diego
2388
| Metric | McKinney, TX | San Diego, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 442 | 503 | McKinney + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2339 | 2388 | McKinney + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
McKinney
33.9%
San Diego
24.2%
San Diego +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
McKinney
9.1%
McKinney +
San Diego
9.2%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
McKinney
15.7%
McKinney +
San Diego
16.5%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
McKinney
10.9%
San Diego
8.5%
San Diego +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
McKinney
18.3%
San Diego
16.9%
San Diego +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
McKinney
9.9%
San Diego
9.3%
San Diego +
| Metric | McKinney, TX | San Diego, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 33.9% | 24.2% | San Diego + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 9.1% | 9.2% | McKinney + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 15.7% | 16.5% | McKinney + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 10.9% | 8.5% | San Diego + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 18.3% | 16.9% | San Diego + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 9.9% | 9.3% | San Diego + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
McKinney
64.2°F
San Diego
61.6°F
San Diego +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
McKinney
40.0 in
San Diego
12.3 in
San Diego +
| Metric | McKinney, TX | San Diego, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 64.2°F | 61.6°F | San Diego + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 40.0 in | 12.3 in | San Diego + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
McKinney
9.2 µg/m³
San Diego
7.9 µg/m³
San Diego +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
McKinney
55.0%
San Diego
75.0%
San Diego +
| Metric | McKinney, TX | San Diego, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.2 µg/m³ | 7.9 µg/m³ | San Diego + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 75.0% | San Diego + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
McKinney
35.6 min
San Diego
25.9 min
San Diego +
| Metric | McKinney, TX | San Diego, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 35.6 min | 25.9 min | San Diego + |
Which City is Right for You?
San Diego leads in median household income at $104,321, while mcKinney offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $487,346. On public safety, McKinney is safer with a violent crime rate of 442 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in San Diego. McKinney has a lower unemployment rate at 4.8%, and San Diego has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, San Diego scores better with a lower obesity rate of 24.2%.
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