Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Houston to McKinney
Houston and McKinney answer different parts of the relocation question. Houston has the lower default annual core-cost model, while the salary, excluded state-tax assumption, and rent-versus-buy choice can reverse that result. Use the citywide ACS figures as reference points, then replace them with the actual offer and housing quote.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to McKinney → HoustonMoving from Houston to McKinney
Median Rent Impact
+$540/mo
Moving to McKinney costs ~$6,480 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
0.0% difference
Neither state imposes an individual state income tax.
Daily Commute Difference
Equal time
Both cities average the same one-way commute duration.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
Adjust the assumptions. Every result updates instantly.
Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTHOU → MCK
61/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$5,904after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainMedian home value is nearly 3.8 times median household income.
Watch closelyHigher income supports housing costs but may reflect tradeoffs in commute or non-housing expenses.
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Houston is about $6,480 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Houston household income$64,813
McKinney household income$124,215
Houston gross rent$1,361
McKinney gross rent$1,901
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Houston | McKinney |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 2,328,253 | 210,600 |
| Median household income | $64,813 | $124,215 |
| Median gross rent | $1,361 | $1,901 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $277,800 | $471,800 |
| State-tax treatment | 0% simplified | Excluded |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 30 minutes in Houston and 30 minutes in McKinney. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Compare actual offers rather than city medians
- Verify neighborhood housing against the citywide ACS benchmark
- Treat renting and buying as separate decisions
- Use the route-specific commute, not only the city estimate
What each city wins
Houston
Median owner-occupied home value of $277,800.. Watch a citywide median income of $64,813 paired with a 30-minute derived commute..
McKinney
Median home value is nearly 3.8 times median household income.. Watch higher income supports housing costs but may reflect tradeoffs in commute or non-housing expenses..
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.