McKinney, TX vs Santa Cruz, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
McKinney
73.5
#726 nationally
Santa Cruz
60.5
#1932 nationally
Santa Cruz leads in walk score (63 vs 24). McKinney leads in cost of living index (111 vs 205). Santa Cruz leads in average commute (22.2 min vs 30.2 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | McKinney, TX | Santa Cruz, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.5 (#726) | 60.5 (#1932) |
| Population | 208,867 | 61,501 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $480,265 | $1,360,355 |
| Median Household Income | $108,542 | $105,491 |
| Average Commute | 30.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Walk Score | 24 | 63 |
| Crime Level | Very Low | 16.8 |
| School Rating | 8.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 111 | 205 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+11.2 | D+54.4 |
C
73.5 Score
McKinney, TX
Historic downtown meets modern growth
Median Home
$480,265
Population
208,867
Crime
Very Low
Schools
A
Southwest
View McKinney, TX →
D-
60.5 Score
Santa Cruz, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,360,355
Population
61,501
Crime
High
Walk Score
63
Pacific
View Santa Cruz, CA →