City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 240 in Anchorage, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 295, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Anchorage is cheaper. Median rent is $1,489 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Anchorage and Irving. Anchorage averages 37°F while Irving averages 70°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,489 versus $1,619.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Anchorage is the easier city on typical rent, but Irving can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Irving has rougher pockets and Anchorage has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Anchorage and Irving are 3,043 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,489 a month in Anchorage to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $130 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $103,284 in Anchorage to $81,830 in Irving, down $21,454 (21%).
The crime index goes from 240 in Anchorage to 99 in Irving, down 141 points (59%).
The move
Irving and Anchorage are 3,043 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,489 a month in Anchorage, down $130 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $103,284 in Anchorage, up $21,454 (26%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 240 in Anchorage, up 141 points (142%).
Anchorage, AK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irving, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Anchorage and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Anchorage rent is 8% cheaper than Irving
Anchorage
Winner$1,489/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,489 a month in Anchorage versus $1,619 in Irving, so Anchorage is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $130, or $1,560 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Anchorage? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
26% higher
Anchorage's median income is 26% higher than Irving
Anchorage
Winner$103,284
Irving
$81,830
Median household income is $103,284 in Anchorage versus $81,830 in Irving, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Anchorage (about $21,454 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Anchorage is the stronger labor market on paper. Irving can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
59% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 59% lower than Anchorage
Anchorage
240 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 240 in Anchorage (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% lower in Irving. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Irving is the easier city. Anchorage can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
355% more comfortable
Irving weather is 355% more comfortable than Anchorage
Anchorage
37°F avg · 42°F highs · comfort 22/100
Irving
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Anchorage averages about 37°F (42°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Anchorage averages around 37°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Irving sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving scores 355% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Anchorage if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Anchorage is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,489 a month. Choose Anchorage if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Anchorage is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 26% higher here ($103,284). Start with Anchorage if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Irving if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (70°F) beat Anchorage on this page's weather index by 355%. Anchorage may pay more or cost less, but Irving is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Irving is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 59% lower than Anchorage (99 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Anchorage (37°F) and Irving (70°F) are not interchangeable on climate — about 33°F apart on typical temperatures. Rent ($1,489 vs $1,619) and pay ($103,284 vs $81,830) still matter, yet most movers regret ignoring the forecast row.
With only $130 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $103,284 in Anchorage versus $81,830 in Irving.
Pick Anchorage when 37°F is the daily environment you want. Otherwise, Irving's case rests on 70°F you prefer and $1,619 rent you can sustain.
Common questions
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