McKinney vs Allen
Nearly identical medians, very different cities. Schools, commute, and character decide it
This is the closest pricing matchup in Collin County: McKinney's median sale price was about $505K in spring 2026 and Allen's was about $499K, so the sticker shock is a wash. Everything else is not. Allen is a compact, essentially built-out city of ~106,000 with an A-rated ISD and a 15-minute run to the Legacy corridor. McKinney is twice the size at 215,000+, still building, sits 20 minutes further north, has a genuine 1848 historic downtown, and its ISD holds a B (88/100) rating. Same money buys a bigger, newer house in McKinney and a shorter commute plus a stronger district in Allen.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | McKinney | Allen |
|---|---|---|
| Median Sale Price (May 2026) | ~$505K (Redfin, down 3.4% YoY) | ~$499K (Redfin, down 2.8% YoY) |
| Typical Single-Family Range | $420K – $720K; historic cottages from the mid-$300s | $380K – $650K; lock-and-leave villas from the mid-$300s |
| School District (2025 TEA) | McKinney ISD: overall B (88/100) | Allen ISD: overall A |
| High Schools | 3 comprehensive campuses (McKinney, Boyd, North) | 1 campus (Allen HS) plus the STEAM Center and Lowery Freshman Center |
| 2025 ISD Tax Rate | $1.1043 per $100 | $1.1258 per $100 |
| 2025–26 City Tax Rate | $0.4123 per $100 (lowered from $0.4155) | $0.4154 per $100, plus a 5% city homestead exemption |
| Commute | ~35 min to Legacy/Plano, ~45 min to Downtown Dallas | ~15 min to Legacy/Plano, ~35 min to Downtown Dallas |
| City Size | 215,000+ residents and still growing fast | ~106,000 residents, largely built out |
| New Construction | Plentiful (Trinity Falls, Stonebridge Ranch, north McKinney) | Limited: mostly resale and infill; new builds are the exception |
| Character | 1876 courthouse square, Adriatica Village, Heard Museum, Oktoberfest | Allen Premium Outlets, Watters Creek, Allen Event Center, Eagle Stadium |
| Space Per Dollar | More: larger lots, acreage and lakeside options exist | Less: tighter lots in a fully developed footprint |
Choose McKinney if…
You want more house, more lot, and newer construction for the same check, and the extra 20 minutes on US-75 does not scare you. You value a real downtown you can walk to on a Saturday, and McKinney has one where Allen genuinely does not. Be clear-eyed about the tradeoff: McKinney ISD is a strong district with AP and career-academy pathways across three high schools, but it has held a B from TEA for four straight years while Allen ISD holds an A, and feeder patterns vary a lot across a city this large. Verify the specific campus, not the district average.
McKinney GuideChoose Allen if…
Schools and commute are your top two filters. Allen ISD's A rating, the single-high-school structure (one Allen HS means one football team, one band, one alumni network, which is far easier to research and far more cohesive), and the 15-minute drive to Toyota/JPMorgan/Legacy make Allen the safer pick for a relocating family with school-age kids. You will pay for it in square footage and you will mostly be buying resale. If those are acceptable, Allen is the stronger buy, and at today's near-identical medians, it is the one I steer most families toward.
Allen GuideStill deciding?
Talk to Mali. She knows both markets
Over 11 years helping buyers choose between McKinney and Allen. Get a candid recommendation based on your budget, commute, and lifestyle.