# Living in McKinney, TX: Realust Score 83

> Source: Realust (realust.com), data as of October 2026. Cite: https://realust.com/city/mckinney/

URL: https://realust.com/city/mckinney/
County: Collin
Realust Score: 83/100 (A-, Great), tied for #24 of 84. Base 81 + price-tier bonus 2.
Category scores: Prosperity 83, Schools 83, Safety 80, Lifestyle 89, Market 78, Affordability 82, Commute 63, Growth 75
Median home price: $472K
Population: 210,600
Market momentum: Growing (home prices -5.6% over 1 year, +11.9% over 5 years)

McKinney, TX is a fast-growing Collin County city north of Dallas that blends “new suburb” expansion with a more historic, small-city core. It’s especially known for its charming, walkable-feeling downtown square, older tree-lined neighborhoods nearby, and then a wide ring of newer subdivisions as you move outward. Housing is largely single-family with a solid mix of established homes and newer builds, plus increasing townhome and apartment options along major corridors; overall, it feels more varied and character-driven than some of its newer neighbors while still being very suburban. Day-to-day life is convenient and family-oriented, with plenty of shopping, restaurants, parks, and community events, and quick access to neighboring job centers in Plano, Frisco, and along US-75. It’s still car-dependent, and commute times can be a deciding factor—especially if you’re traveling deep into Dallas during peak traffic. The main upsides are strong amenities, a well-loved downtown, and a “bigger than a town, smaller than a city” vibe; the tradeoffs are rising home costs, ongoing development and road congestion in growth areas, and neighborhood-to-neighborhood differences in age, HOA feel, and school zoning by address.

Strengths:
- Top-rated schools – McKinney ISD consistently receives high ratings
- Combines a charming downtown with new master-planned communities
- Low crime and lots of recreational options
- Abundant outdoor amenities – Parks, trails, and open spaces for active lifestyles
- Frequent festivals, farmers markets, and neighborhood engagement

Trade-offs:
- Higher cost of living – Housing and property taxes above the regional average
- Rapid population growth has led to congestion on major roads
- Limited nightlife for young professionals – More family-focused than urban social hubs
- Suburban sprawl – Some areas lack walkability
- Competitive real estate market – Homes sell quickly, especially in desirable neighborhoods

Data:
- Demographics / Population: Total Population 210,600; People per sq mile 3,065; 5-Year Growth +15.7%
- Demographics / Mobility & Migration: Moved Last Year 14.5%; Same Home 1+ Year 85.5%; From Out of State 3.2%; From Different County 3.3%
- Demographics / Age Distribution: Under 18 26.2%; 25-34 12.4%; 35-44 17.4%; 65+ 10.3%; Median Age 36.9 years
- Demographics / Households: Avg Household Size 2.8; Family Households 75.1%; Homeownership Rate 63.8%; With Kids 41.7%; Married 60.4%; Single Parent 6.4%; Living Alone 20.6%; Seniors Alone 6.2%
- Demographics / Education Level: High School+ 95.2%; Bachelor's+ 54.1%; Graduate Degree 20.3%
- Demographics / Connectivity & Remote Work: Broadband Access 95.7%; Have Computer 98.6%; Work From Home 21.8%
- Real Estate / Home Prices: Per Sq Ft $211; Starter Home $424,990; Median Price $472,118; Premium Home $827,000
- Real Estate / Home Price Trends: 1-Year Change -5.6%; 5-Year Change +11.9%
- Real Estate / Rent Trends: 1-Year Change -0.1%; 5-Year Change +23.2%
- Real Estate / Market Health: Active Listings 769; Median Days on Market 66; Under Contract 33.2%; Price Reduced 13%; Sale-to-List Ratio 97.5%
- Real Estate / Market Insights: Cheaper to Rent $821/mo; Seller's market 2 mo; Rental Yield 4.6%; Income to Buy 3.8x; vs Region Avg -6%
- Real Estate / Fit Scores: Remote Work Fit 84; Family Fit 59; Investment 90
- Real Estate / Typical Home: Sq Ft 2,813; Beds 3.8; Baths 3.3; Lot Sq Ft 13,846; Year Built 2018; Garage 2.2-car
- Real Estate / Property Mix: Single Family 92.5%; Townhome 5.5%; Condo 1%
- Real Estate / Common Features: Pool 2%; Garage 98.5%; Single Story 29.5%; Fireplace 16%; Central Air 16.5%
- Real Estate / Costs & Ownership: Est. Monthly Payment $2,615; Median Rent $1,794; Avg HOA Fee $107/mo; Have HOA 17.5%
- Real Estate / Investment Indicators: Rental Vacancy 0.7%; New Construction 81.5%; Per Bedroom $166,253
- Lifestyle / Lifestyle Scores: Area Feel Dense Suburban; Family Friendly 8.7; Outdoor Activities 5.3; Nightlife 6; Health & Fitness 7.3; Diversity 8; Weather 6.7
- Lifestyle / Nearby Amenities (within 5 miles): Restaurants 60+; Parks 60+; Gyms 60+; Grocery 13; Coffee 60+; Bars 60+; Theaters 3; Daycares 60+; Hospitals 40; Pharmacies 50; Dentists 60+; Libraries 9; Dog Parks 60+; Museums 7
- Lifestyle / Getting Around: Walk Score 22; Bike Score 36
- Lifestyle / Seasonal Temperatures (high / low): January 55° / 38°; April 73° / 54°; July 94° / 77°; October 76° / 58°
- Lifestyle / Annual Conditions: Sunny Days/Year 215; Rainy Days/Year 150; Annual Rainfall 56.4"
- Crime & Safety / Safety Overview: Safety Grade B; Violent crime (per 1,000) 1.29; Property crime (per 1,000) 7.61
- Crime & Safety / Violent Crime (per 100,000): Assault 74.84; Robbery 12.78; Murder 4.75; Rape 26.92
- Crime & Safety / Property Crime (per 100,000): Burglary 85.34; Theft 656.68; Vehicle Theft 73.47
- Job Market / Income: Median Household $124,215; Average Household $153,221; Per Capita $55,643
- Job Market / Employment: Unemployment Rate 3.7%; Job Growth (1 yr) +3.9%; Poverty Rate 5.7%
- Job Market / Income Distribution: $150k+ 40.7%; $100k-$150k 18.4%; $75k-$100k 11.2%; $50k-$75k 11.2%; $25k-$50k 11.3%; Under $25k 7.1%
- Job Market / Industries & Employers: Major Industries Healthcare, Technology, Retail, Manufacturing; Top Employers Raytheon, Medical City McKinney, Globe Life, Encore Wire, McKinney ISD
- Education / School District: Primary district McKinney ISD; District Grade A-; State Ranking Top 29%
- Education / Schools: Elementary 21; Middle 5; High School 6
- Education / Elementary Schools: Roy Lee Walker Elementary A (96); Gary And Bobbye Jack Minshew Elementary A (93)
- Education / Middle Schools: Scoggins Middle A (92); Dowell Middle A (92)
- Education / High Schools: Mckinney North High School A (95); Mckinney Boyd High School A (94)
- Education / Academic Info: Student-Teacher Ratio 14.1:1
- Education / Graduation Rates (Class of 2024): Graduation Rate 98.1%; Dropout Rate 1.0%
- Education / College Readiness (Class of 2023): Took SAT/ACT 97%; College Ready 26.4%; TSI Ready 38.9%
- Transportation / Mobility Scores: Walk Score 22; Bike Score 36
- Transportation / Commute: Avg Minutes 28; Drive Alone 68.3%; Carpool 6.9%; Work from Home 21.8%
- Transportation / Distance To: Downtown Dallas 33.3 mi; DFW Airport 34.7 mi; Love Field 35.5 mi
- Transportation / EV Charging: Public Stations 27; DC Fast Ports 28; Level 2 Ports 40
- Transportation / Major Highway Access: Highways US-75, US-380, Sam Rayburn Tollway
- Cost of Living / Cost Index (100 = National Average): Overall 102; Housing 115; Utilities 97; Groceries 100; Transportation 102; Healthcare 100
- Cost of Living / Monthly Utilities: Electric $142; Water $52; Gas $44; Internet $72
- Cost of Living / Everyday Costs: Monthly Groceries (Family of 4) $825; Gas Price (per gallon) $2.82
- Cost of Living / Taxes: Sales Tax Rate 8.3%; Property Tax Rate 2.2%

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