McKinney Apartment Locator: Craig Ranch to SH-5, and the US-380 Traffic
As your McKinney apartment locator, we checked 58 places this week, with prices from $863 a month after free rent. McKinney spreads wide, and rent falls as you head east. New midrise and garden communities line Custer Road, Lake Forest Drive and Craig Ranch on the west side. Central McKinney has lots of older garden buildings with plenty of three bedrooms. Near SH-5 and the courthouse square, older buildings still have a person reading applications. US-380 traffic shapes the commute from every one of them.
- Typical 1 bedroom
- $1,191/mo
- Places with homes available
- 58
- With a special
- 57%
- Our help costs you
- $0
After free rent, before fees. Checked . See this week's deals
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Costs you nothing
Your list and our help are free
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No credit pull
We never touch your screening report
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We reply during our hours
Mon to Fri, 9:00am to 6:00pm. Your budget and move date are all we need.
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TREC #562021
Spirit Real Estate Group
McKinney apartments by size this week
We checked 58 places in McKinney on November 6, 2026. Prices count any firm free rent, spread over the lease, and are before fees. Pick your size to see the best deals.
This week in McKinney
Price by building age, after free rent
For a studio here, newer buildings cost only about $128 a month more than middle age ones. That's not much extra for a newer home.
For a 1 bedroom here, newer buildings cost only about $146 a month more than middle age ones. That's not much extra for a newer home.
On a 2 bedroom here, middle age buildings run about $281 a month less than newer ones. If price matters most, start with them.
On a 3 bedroom here, middle age buildings run about $429 a month less than newer ones. If price matters most, start with them.
For a 4 bedroom here, newer buildings cost only about $94 a month more than middle age ones. That's not much extra for a newer home.
57%
of places here have a move-in special
Firm free rent offers here give about 6 weeks.
+$92
typical 4 bedroom since November 1
Prices here went up. When you find a deal you like, ask us how long it lasts.
7
brand new or still opening
4 have a special now. New buildings often run the biggest deals as they fill up.
Renting a house or an apartment in McKinney?
A 2 bedroom house here runs about $594 a month more than a 2 bedroom apartment after free rent.
A 3 bedroom house and a 3 bedroom apartment after free rent cost about the same here.
A 4 bedroom house here runs about $227 a month less than a 4 bedroom apartment, even after the apartment's free rent.
With a house you usually get a yard, more room and no shared walls. You often pay water, trash and yard care yourself, and deposits can run higher.
With an apartment you pay community fees each month for things like parking, trash and amenities. Free rent usually needs a lease of 12 months or more, and the staff on site handles repairs.
House rents: Rentometer, Oct 2026, houses rented in McKinney, TX in the past 12 months. Apartment prices: our check of 58 communities this week, after free rent and before fees.
Our picks in McKinney
Places we like right now, in each kind of building. Tell us your budget, and we'll send the names and floor plans.
Newer buildings
Built or redone since 2015
1 / 81 Bedroom from $1,270/moOur takeA brand new build with a leasing team that walks you through every step of the lease.Get the name →
1 Bedroom from $1,380/moOur takeBuilt with care and brand new; the leasing team will happily show you several homes until one feels right.Get the name →
1 / 81 Bedroom from $1,271/moUp to 12 weeks freeOur takeBrand new, roomy and quiet, with a maintenance team that goes the extra mile; get your parking permit sorted early.Get the name →
Middle age buildings
Mostly built 1995 to 2014
1 / 51 Bedroom from $1,205/moOur takeBuilt in the last six years, so the homes still feel new.Get the name →
1 / 81 Bedroom from $995/moOur takeHomes are modern and easy to keep, the grounds are tidy, and repairs get handled fast.Get the name →
1 / 81 Bedroom from $1,086/moOur takeMonthly social events here make it easy to settle in, and the whole property is well kept.Get the name →
Find your best deal in McKinney
Pick what you want. We compare each deal with buildings like it here: same size, about the same age.
Circles show the general area, not the building. Numbers match the deals below.
1 / 8Top deal on this list
$157 below similar studios here
Low price, no special needed
$863
/mo
Studio · 497 sq ft · $1.74 per sq ft
Class B · Built 2017 · 4+ stars on Google
129 homes available this week
Get the name and floor plan
1 / 8$248 below similar 1 bedrooms here
1 bed · 560 sq ft · $1.74 per sq ft
Class A · Built 2021 · 3.5+ stars on Google
73 homes available this week
No special needed
$975/moGet the name
1 / 5$346 below similar 2 bedrooms here
2 bed · 1,028 sq ft · $1.39 per sq ft
Class A · Built 2024 · 4+ stars on Google
Down $183 since November 1 · 20 homes available this week
No special needed
$1,434/moGet the name- 1 / 8★ Our pick
$550 below similar 3 bedrooms here
3 bed · 1,530 sq ft · $1.21 per sq ft
Class B · Built 2016 · 4+ stars on Google
2 homes available this week
No special needed
$1,845/moGet the name 
1 / 8$385 below similar 4 bedrooms here
4 bed · 1,683 sq ft · $1.45 per sq ft
Class B · Built 2023 · 4.5+ stars on Google
14 homes available this week
Up to 6 weeks free on some homes
$2,440/moGet the name
Prices are rent only. Monthly fees and the deposit are extra. Ask for your list, and we'll send the names and floor plans.
Nothing here matches all of that this week. Tell us what you want and we'll look for buildings that fit.
Why our prices are lower than what the community quotes
When a community gives free rent, we spread it over the whole lease and show what you pay a month on average. The community quotes the full rent, and many take the free rent off your first months. You pay the same total either way. Our way lets you compare one deal with another. Fees and the deposit are extra.
See all the numbers: prices by size, newer vs. older, week by week
Prices by size
"Middle half" is the range half the places here start in. A price under it beats about 3 in 4 places.
| Size | Typical | Cheapest | Middle half | Per sq ft | Since November 1 | Places open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,078 | $863 | $1,004 to $1,188 | $2.21 | up $22 | 8 |
| 1 bed | $1,191 | $874 | $1,082 to $1,285 | $1.81 | down $8 | 54 |
| 2 bed | $1,702 | $1,139 | $1,492 to $1,880 | $1.54 | no change | 56 |
| 3 bed | $2,307 | $1,696 | $1,988 to $2,693 | $1.56 | up $14 | 45 |
| 4 bed | $2,977 | $2,440 | $2,717 to $3,259 | $1.45 | up $92 | 11 |
Newer vs. older buildings
Newer means built or redone since 2015. Middle means mostly 1995 to 2014. Older means built before 1995. Prices are for a 1 bedroom. How we sort them
| Buildings | Typical 1 bed | With a special | Usual weeks free | Per sq ft | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newer (Class A) | $1,271 | 67% | 6 weeks | $1.88 | 24 |
| Middle (Class B) | $1,126 | 48% | 4 weeks | $1.51 | 33 |
Prices week by week
The typical price from each weekly check since Oct 28. A line heading down means prices here are easing.
Each place's price is its lowest listed available apartment of that size, after any firm free rent and before fees. We leave out income restricted, tax credit, 55+ and student housing. Prices can change any day, so get the final price in writing from the building before you apply.
Areas we cover inside McKinney
Craig RanchCraig Ranch is the planned district in southwest McKinney near SH-121 and Alma Road, with the TPC Craig Ranch golf course.
Newer midsize and garden apartments sit near its town center, and SH-121 is the route to Frisco and Plano.
Adriatica VillageAdriatica is the village built in a Croatian style at Stacy Road and SH-121 in southwest McKinney, with stone buildings around a central square.
Homes sit above and beside its shops, along the small Lake Adriatica.
Historic Downtown McKinneyThe square around the old Collin County courthouse is the center of McKinney's historic downtown.
Older houses, duplexes and a few newer apartment buildings sit on the surrounding blocks, and most of the square is walkable.
SH-5 CorridorSH-5 (McDonald Street) runs north and south through east McKinney near the rail line.
Older apartments, rental houses and shops sit along it, and it runs straight to downtown.
Custer Road CorridorOn McKinney's west side, Custer Road crosses both SH-121 and US-380.
Garden apartments and subdivisions line it, and the drive south toward Plano is easy.
Lake Forest DriveLake Forest Drive runs north and south through the west central part of McKinney.
Garden apartments and subdivisions sit along it, with US-380 and SH-121 at either end.
Eldorado ParkwayEldorado Parkway crosses west McKinney east to west toward Frisco and Prosper.
Shopping centers and several apartment communities sit along it, and it connects to US-75 on the east end.
Stonebridge RanchStonebridge Ranch is the large planned community in west McKinney, with golf, lakes and trails.
Rentals are mostly houses under homeowners association rules, and Virginia Parkway and Eldorado Parkway carry most of the traffic.
Photos: Craig Ranch: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons; Adriatica Village: Mistermckinney, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Historic Downtown McKinney: Rick Ray, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons.
McKinney Apartments Get Cheaper the Farther East You Go
- We price east, central and west McKinney on their own, since one citywide average fits none of them
- East side buildings near SH-5 where a manager, not software, decides on your application
- We look at commutes with the US-380 rush hour in mind, which can turn a short trip on the map into a long drive
US-75, US-380 and the Rush Hour Drive
Two roads decide most McKinney commutes: US-75, north and south toward Allen, Plano and Dallas, and US-380 (University Drive) across the middle of the city. US-380 jams at both rush hours, so two buildings a few miles apart on either side of US-75 can be very different drives at 5pm. Clock the trip from each address at the hour you'd really leave.
There's no rail here, so every address means a car. Inside the city, Eldorado Parkway, Virginia Parkway and Stacy Road run east and west, and Custer Road, Lake Forest Drive and SH-5 run north and south. SH-121 on the southwest side is the tolled route toward Frisco.
West, central and east McKinney
The west side runs from Custer Road and Lake Forest Drive down to Craig Ranch and Adriatica. It has the newest garden and midrise buildings at the top of the city's prices, plus townhomes built to rent. Buildings still filling up there lead with free rent. Price it with our specials guide before you compare.
Central McKinney is the broad middle: older garden communities at moderate rents and plenty of three bedroom plans. They screen by written rules but take guarantor companies, bigger deposits and co-signers when income is steady.
East toward SH-5 and the courthouse square, the buildings are older and many still have a manager on site who makes the call. Been turned down elsewhere? The east side is the place to look, though your income still has to meet their bar.
What a week in McKinney looks like
McKinney is a big Collin County city with an old courthouse square on the east side and newer shopping and parks out west. You'll drive for nearly everything, and many Saturdays start downtown.
- McKinney by car
- Dog parks, lake loops and nature trails
- Where McKinney eats out
- Groceries, shopping centers and the Saturday market
- Festivals, shows and an old village
- What we tell McKinney renters
McKinney by car
No train serves McKinney, so plan on driving. US-75 runs along the east side toward Allen and Plano, and the Sam Rayburn Tollway (SH-121) cuts across the southwest corner toward Frisco. Legacy West is about 18 minutes away in our 8am drive times. DFW Airport takes about 36, the Medical District 42 and Downtown Dallas 46, and the evening rush adds up to 11 more. The square is the one part of town made for walking.
Sam Rayburn Tollway
The fast way to Frisco and Legacy West from the southwest side; budget the tolls each month if you'll take it to work.
- Commute to Legacy
- Trips to Frisco
Dog parks, lake loops and nature trails
Bonnie Wenk Park on the west side is one of the busiest parks in town, with its own large dog park. Towne Lake Park, close to the center of the city, wraps around a lake with paths for an easy walk. Finch Park is an older park closer to the square, and Gabe Nesbitt Community Park on Eldorado Parkway has a loop trail and courts. To the south, the Heard museum and wildlife sanctuary mixes trails through wetlands with live animals.
Towne Lake Park
Our pick for a loop around the water before work, close to the middle of town and easy to reach from either side.
- Lake loop walks
- Morning runs
Bonnie Wenk Park
Bring the dog on a weekday evening, when the off leash area is calmer and the summer heat starts to break.
- Dog park visits
- Evening walks
Gabe Nesbitt Community Park
Walk the loop trail on a weekday evening, or book a court for pickleball on Eldorado Parkway.
- Weekend outings
- Long walks
Where McKinney eats out
The square is the main place to go out, with restaurants and patios on the blocks around the old courthouse, busiest on Friday and Saturday nights. Hutchins BBQ is the barbecue name people know here, so go early for weekend lunch. Out west, The Yard McKinney and The Stix Icehouse are big open air hangouts with plenty of room to spread out. Craig Ranch and Adriatica Village add more sit down dinners on the southwest side.
McKinney Square
Park once and walk the blocks around the courthouse for dinner, dessert and a drink, busiest on weekend nights.
- Dinner walks
- Patio drinks
- Weekend nights out
Hutchins BBQ
Get there before the lunch rush on Saturday; the line moves, and the smoked meats are why people drive in.
- Saturday barbecue
- Bringing guests
The Yard McKinney
A good pick on a mild evening when you want food, drinks and space outside without dressing up.
- Outdoor dinners
- Casual hangouts
The Stix Icehouse
Grab a cold drink and a seat outside on a Friday after work, when the west side heads out for the weekend.
- After work drinks
- Patio evenings
Groceries, shopping centers and the Saturday market
Groceries are easy here. Trader Joe's, WinCo Foods and El Rancho Supermercado all sit within about 2 miles of the middle of the city. Cameron Crossing, Eldorado Plaza and Heritage Square cover the rest of the weekly run. On Saturdays, the McKinney Farmers Market sets up at Chestnut Square, a few blocks south of the square. It runs 8am to noon from April through December and 9am to noon the rest of the year.
McKinney Farmers Market at Chestnut Square
Go right at opening on a Saturday for the best produce, then walk a few blocks north for coffee on the square.
- Saturday produce
- Local baked goods
Cameron Crossing
A one stop lot for errands and a quick meal, close to the middle of town and easy to reach from US-75.
- Weekly errands
- Quick takeout
Trader Joe's
Stop in for snacks, frozen meals and flowers; the lot gets tight on weekend afternoons, so weekday evenings are easier.
- Weeknight groceries
- Frozen meal runs
Festivals, shows and an old village
Historic Downtown McKinney hosts the city's big street parties, led by Oktoberfest on a weekend in late September. The McKinney Performing Arts Center sits right on the square, with concerts and shows through the year. Chestnut Square Historic Village keeps a set of old homes and a museum a few blocks south. For a slower day outside, the Heard Museum's sanctuary trails are a short drive south.
Historic Downtown McKinney
Come for Oktoberfest in late September or any weekend stroll; parking near the square fills fast on festival days.
- Street festivals
- Weekend strolls
McKinney Performing Arts Center
Check the calendar for a concert or show on the square, then make it a night with dinner a block away.
- Live shows
- Concert nights
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
Plan a cool morning on the trails and boardwalks, then step inside to see the animals when it warms up.
- Nature trails
- Bird watching
- Cool morning hikes
Chestnut Square Historic Village
Walk through the old homes on a Saturday after the farmers market, since both are on the same grounds.
- Local history
- Saturday mornings
What we tell McKinney renters
On Oktoberfest weekend and other big event days, parking downtown fills and the blocks around the square stay busy into the night. If quiet matters, tour a home near the square on an event day. The farmers market is busiest in the first hour, so go early or go late. If you'll drive to Legacy West every day, compare the Sam Rayburn Tollway with free roads before you choose a side of town.
McKinney questions
Which side of McKinney fits my budget?
West of US-75, around Custer Road, Lake Forest Drive and Craig Ranch, rents sit at the top of the city's range. Central McKinney's older garden communities land in the middle, and the east side near SH-5 and the square runs lowest. Across McKinney, the middle one bedroom rent is $1,191 in this week's data.
How bad is US-380 at 5pm?
Bad enough to choose your side of town for you. University Drive backs up at both rush hours, so drive it from the address you like at the hour you'd really leave before you commit.
Which school district covers my address here?
McKinney ISD covers most of the city, with slices in Frisco, Prosper, Allen, Lovejoy and Melissa ISD. Look up the street on the district's website.
Where are the flexible buildings on the east side?
Near SH-5 and the historic square, where older buildings still have a manager deciding applications by hand. Income still has to meet their bar. A person reads your file, but not everyone gets in.
Can I rent with bad credit?
Often. Start on the east side near SH-5, where a person decides instead of scoring software. The central garden communities work with guarantor companies, bigger deposits and co-signers if pay is steady. Details are in our low credit guide.
Where are McKinney's three bedroom rentals?
Mostly in the older central garden communities. For more privacy, the houses and townhomes built to rent around Craig Ranch and central McKinney add more three bedroom choices.
Can I walk to the McKinney square?
From some east side addresses near SH-5, yes. From Craig Ranch or Custer Road it's a drive across the city, so check the walk from the exact building.
Is there an apartment locator near McKinney?
Yes, and we work McKinney one side of town at a time. We ask the newest Craig Ranch buildings about this month's offers and the SH-5 managers about who they'll consider. Then we send places on the side that fits your budget and your drive.
Near McKinney
Frisco is the SH-121 neighbor to the southwest, Plano sits down US-75, and East Plano has older buildings close to the train.
Looking in McKinney?
Give us a budget and a side of US-75, and we'll send McKinney places that fit, with the US-380 drive in mind.
low credit apartments · new McKinney area buildings · how specials really price
Free to renters · No credit pull · Brokered by Spirit Real Estate Group, TREC #562021