McKinney TX vs San Jose 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 Jose, CA

California · Population: 990,054

  • Median HH Income$141,565
  • Median Home Price$1,452,609
  • Unemployment4.7%
  • Bachelor's+46.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
McKinney
148,848
San Jose
990,054
San Jose +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
McKinney
N/A
San Jose
N/A
Median Age
McKinney
33.4
McKinney +
San Jose
38.1
Foreign Born
McKinney
21.0%
San Jose
41.6%
San Jose +
White
McKinney
37.8%
McKinney +
San Jose
29.0%
Black
McKinney
24.7%
McKinney +
San Jose
2.9%
Asian
McKinney
3.0%
San Jose
38.6%
San Jose +
Hispanic
McKinney
44.7%
McKinney +
San Jose
30.9%
Spanish at Home
McKinney
N/A
San Jose
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
McKinney
$71,843
San Jose
$141,565
San Jose +
Per Capita Income
McKinney
$29,291
San Jose
$63,253
San Jose +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
McKinney
$63,758
San Jose
$77,230
San Jose +
Unemployment Rate
McKinney
4.8%
San Jose
4.7%
San Jose +
Poverty Rate
McKinney
12.4%
San Jose
7.8%
San Jose +
Bachelor's Degree+
McKinney
18.5%
San Jose
46.5%
San Jose +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
McKinney
$487,346
McKinney +
San Jose
$1,452,609
Homeownership Rate
McKinney
63.2%
McKinney +
San Jose
56.0%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
McKinney
442
McKinney +
San Jose
503
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
McKinney
2339
McKinney +
San Jose
2388

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
McKinney
33.9%
San Jose
23.7%
San Jose +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
McKinney
9.1%
McKinney +
San Jose
11.1%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
McKinney
15.7%
San Jose
14.9%
San Jose +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
McKinney
10.9%
San Jose
9.1%
San Jose +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
McKinney
18.3%
San Jose
13.0%
San Jose +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
McKinney
9.9%
San Jose
9.4%
San Jose +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
McKinney
64.2°F
San Jose
61.5°F
San Jose +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
McKinney
40.0 in
San Jose
14.9 in
San Jose +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
McKinney
9.2 µg/m³
San Jose
7.9 µg/m³
San Jose +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
McKinney
55.0%
San Jose
75.0%
San Jose +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
McKinney
35.6 min
San Jose
30.4 min
San Jose +

Which City is Right for You?

San Jose leads in median household income at $141,565, 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 Jose. San Jose has a lower unemployment rate at 4.7%, and San Jose has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, San Jose scores better with a lower obesity rate of 23.7%.

Compare More Cities

About McKinney & San Jose