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McKinney

Texas · DFW — Collin County
No Income TaxElite DanceWarmMid Cost
80
/ 100 match score

McKinney has a charming, walkable historic downtown and consistently wins "Best Place to Live" rankings. McKinney ISD is excellent. Growing tech presence in northern Collin County. Historic square is a genuine community differentiator.

Match Score Breakdown
Cost of Living
13/20
Family Safety
16/20
State Tax Burden
10/10
Healthcare Quality
13/20
Dance Training
12/12
Musical Theater
6/8
Career / Remote
10/10
Financial Snapshot at $360K Income
State income tax
$0
Texas advantage
Est. after-tax income
$267,175
incl. FICA + federal
Annual living costs
$102,000
$84,000–$120,000 range
Annual surplus
+$165,175
King: 2.6×
FICA (7.65%)
$27,540/yr
Rent: 3BR family home
$2,000–$2,800/mo
Median SFH purchase
$500,000
Dance Training
Strong studio infrastructure in McKinney. Several competition-level studios plus proximity to Allen/Plano and the broader Dallas dance ecosystem.
Healthcare
Medical Center of McKinney and Texas Health Presbyterian McKinney both in city. Children's Health 30 min south in Plano.
Career & Remote Work
Northern Collin County is emerging as its own tech hub. Toyota North American HQ in Plano 20 minutes. Many Fortune 500 regional offices in the area.
Musical Theater
Strong
McKinney ISD has strong performing arts programs with competitive theater departments. Multiple private MT studios in McKinney and the surrounding north Collin County area. Active DFW competition circuit. Growing north Collin arts infrastructure continues to attract professional-level instructors. Good BFA pipeline from this area.
Safety
Violent crime rate:190 per 100KSafe (suburbs)

US national average: ~370/100K. For cities with elevated rates, target specific suburban ISD neighborhoods — actual neighborhood crime is 40–60% below city average.

Internet Quality
Excellent1,000+ Mbps
AT&T Fiber and Frontier gigabit available throughout McKinney. Growing tech presence has accelerated fiber buildout north.
Pros
  • +Charming walkable historic square — unique in DFW suburbs
  • +Excellent McKinney ISD
  • +Growing tech presence
  • +More affordable than south Collin County
  • +Family-friendly culture
Cons
  • −Farther north — downtown Dallas commute is 45+ min
  • −Growing fast — infrastructure under strain
  • −Crime rate creeping up with population
Quick Stats
School rating
8/10
Healthcare rating
8/10
Tech job market
excellent
Remote friendly
Yes

Financial estimates: $360K gross income, FICA 7.65% + federal MFJ 2026 brackets ($30K standard deduction). Texas has no state income tax. Does not include property tax (TX rates 1.5–2.5% of assessed value, varies by county) or HOA. Actual liability varies — consult a CPA.