McKinney vs Melissa: the data, side by side
Melissa's typical home value is $51,877 lower than McKinney's ($430,722 vs $482,599, Zillow ZHVI, June 2026). On the computed commute grid, McKinney posts the shorter free-flow drive to 11 of the six tracked employment centers. Which trade wins depends on your workplace and budget — the Fit Engine scores it for your exact profile.
Verified facts
| McKinney | Melissa | |
|---|---|---|
| County | Collin | Collin |
| Population (Census Vintage 2024) | 227,526 | 26,194 |
| Typical home value (Zillow ZHVI, June 2026) | $482,599 | $430,722 |
| Typical rent (Zillow ZORI, June 2026) | $1,819 | $1,927 |
Counties: McKinney — Collin; Melissa — Collin. Property tax depends on the taxing units at each address, not the city line alone — see how Texas property tax works.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 estimates · Zillow ZHVI/ZORI June 2026 · OSRM commute grid 2026-08-09 · full methodology
Commutes compared
| Destination | McKinney | Melissa |
|---|---|---|
| Legacy West | 19 | 29 |
| Frisco (The Star) | 20 | 30 |
| Las Colinas | 42 | 52 |
| DFW Airport | 45 | 55 |
| Downtown Dallas | 36 | 45 |
| Downtown Fort Worth | 65 | 75 |
| Richardson CityLine | 20 | 29 |
| Addison | 31 | 41 |
| Medical District | 41 | 51 |
| AllianceTexas | 72 | 82 |
| Cypress Waters | 41 | 51 |
Free-flow driving minutes (OSRM model, computed 2026-08-09). Peak-hour drives run meaningfully higher.
Where the commute actually decides it
The employment centers where these two diverge most, free-flow model.
- Legacy West — McKinney is 10 min closer (19 vs 29 min)
- Frisco (The Star) — McKinney is 10 min closer (20 vs 30 min)
- Las Colinas — McKinney is 10 min closer (42 vs 52 min)
Which one fits your household?
- McKinney: choose it if your commute anchors to Legacy West (19 vs 29 min), Frisco (The Star) (20 vs 30 min) — it wins 11 of the 11 tracked centers.
- Melissa: posts no commute edge at any tracked center — its case is price or area preference.
- If budget leads: Melissa typically prices $51,877 lower (June 2026); for renters, McKinney's typical rent is lower ($1,819 vs $1,927).
- Two workplaces? The Fit Engine weighs both commutes and your budget band together.
Communities to shortlist
In McKinney: Painted Tree: Village South, Phase 1 · Tuscany at Wilson Creek · Auburn Hills · Bloomridge Addition
In Melissa: Auburndale · Del Webb at Trinity Falls · Prose Stoneridge · The Preserve at Honey Creek
Every community page carries its own computed commute grid; the full rosters live on the city profiles.
Score it for your profile
Your workplace, ceiling, and budget band decide this comparison — not our opinion.
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Get matchedCity profiles: McKinney · Melissa
Adjacent decisions
Allen vs McKinney · Allen vs Melissa · Anna vs McKinney · Anna vs Melissa · Celina vs McKinney · Celina vs Melissa
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