Rent vs buy in McKinney, TX
In McKinney, Texas, the typical rent is $1,741 /mo and the typical home value is $472,867.
Renting comes out ahead by $97k over 7 years
These figures include 20% down and today's mortgage rate, based on McKinney's typical rent and home value. There's no break-even within 30 years.
An opinion, clearly labelled, with the math shown. These figures are estimates, not quotes. The stamp changes when you change a number.
- Ahead by renting
- $97k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- 30+ years owning never catches up sooner
- Actual cost of owning
- $4,461 /mo year 1, against $1,741 rent
Change my numbers
McKinney's typical rent and home value feed into the stamp's result. Your rent, price and years can change the outcome.
Do these numbers differ from the city's?
Enter the rent, price and down payment you want to use. Those figures change the stamp.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in McKinney?
Renting costs $97,373 less over 7 years, including the money you get back when you sell. In every year shown, renting's net cost is lower than owning's, and owning never catches up within 30 years.
Renting costs. Owning costs. Net cost to date, by year.
Average rent compared with the mortgage payment in McKinney
Rent and mortgage payments don't tell the whole story, so here are all monthly costs for year 1 at McKinney's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,741 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,578 | $2,272 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $650 | 1.65% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $179 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $394 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,801 | $306 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $769 | At 8.3% a year, the cash would earn this amount |
| Buying costs, spread out | $197 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $4,461 | Cash paid out, minus equity, plus the two amounts above |
The numbers behind McKinney's result
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $472,867
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,741 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, Texas, 1995 to 2025
- 4.7% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, McKinney
- 1.65% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, McKinney
- $179 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What would flip the result in McKinney?
Each line shows the point where McKinney's 7-year verdict changes, with all other factors unchanged.
Renting wins if
- At less than 7.1% annual home price growth, this condition applies. The calculation uses 4.7%, Texas's long-run rate.
- This condition applies when the mortgage rate remains above 3.53%.
- For a home like this, rent costs less than $2,780 each month; the typical amount here is $1,741.
- You move at any time during the next 30 years, and owning never catches up with these numbers.
Buying wins if
- Home prices grow by more than 7.1% a year.
- You lock in a mortgage rate under 3.53% (today's is 7.24%).
- If you rented that same home, your monthly cost would exceed $2,780.
McKinney compared with 812 other cities
| Measure | McKinney | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $472,867 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,741 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 22.6 (#219 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 4.4% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 0.4% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.65% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 36% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
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