McKinney TX vs Wilmington NC — 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%

Wilmington, NC

North Carolina · Population: 250,887

  • Median HH Income$57,673
  • Median Home Price$419,326
  • Unemployment5.9%
  • Bachelor's+37.2%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
McKinney
148,848
Wilmington
250,887
Wilmington +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
McKinney
N/A
Wilmington
N/A
Median Age
McKinney
33.4
McKinney +
Wilmington
35.6
Foreign Born
McKinney
21.0%
McKinney +
Wilmington
10.7%
White
McKinney
37.8%
Wilmington
48.7%
Wilmington +
Black
McKinney
24.7%
Wilmington
32.4%
Wilmington +
Asian
McKinney
3.0%
McKinney +
Wilmington
2.3%
Hispanic
McKinney
44.7%
McKinney +
Wilmington
17.9%
Spanish at Home
McKinney
N/A
Wilmington
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
McKinney
$71,843
McKinney +
Wilmington
$57,673
Per Capita Income
McKinney
$29,291
Wilmington
$35,074
Wilmington +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
McKinney
$63,758
McKinney +
Wilmington
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
McKinney
4.8%
McKinney +
Wilmington
5.9%
Poverty Rate
McKinney
12.4%
McKinney +
Wilmington
17.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
McKinney
18.5%
Wilmington
37.2%
Wilmington +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
McKinney
$487,346
Wilmington
$419,326
Wilmington +
Homeownership Rate
McKinney
63.2%
McKinney +
Wilmington
54.6%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
McKinney
442
Wilmington
398
Wilmington +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
McKinney
2339
Wilmington
1999
Wilmington +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
McKinney
33.9%
Wilmington
31.9%
Wilmington +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
McKinney
9.1%
McKinney +
Wilmington
10.7%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
McKinney
15.7%
McKinney +
Wilmington
17.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
McKinney
10.9%
Wilmington
9.6%
Wilmington +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
McKinney
18.3%
Wilmington
17.5%
Wilmington +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
McKinney
9.9%
McKinney +
Wilmington
12.2%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
McKinney
64.2°F
Wilmington
63.8°F
Wilmington +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
McKinney
40.0 in
McKinney +
Wilmington
58.4 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
McKinney
35.6 min
Wilmington
23.2 min
Wilmington +

Which City is Right for You?

McKinney leads in median household income at $71,843, while wilmington offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $419,326. On public safety, Wilmington is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in McKinney. McKinney has a lower unemployment rate at 4.8%, and Wilmington has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.7 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Wilmington scores better with a lower obesity rate of 31.9%.

Compare More Cities

About McKinney & Wilmington