City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Irving is cheaper. Median rent is $1,619 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
Safety is where Austin and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 63 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $1,619 in Irving.
This is a genuine split. Austin wins on the job market and Irving wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Irving has rougher pockets and Austin has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Austin and Irving are 182 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,619 a month in Irving, down $110 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $81,830 in Irving, down $11,828 (13%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 99 in Irving, down 63 points (39%).
The move
Irving and Austin are 182 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $110 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $93,658 in Austin, up $11,828 (14%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 162 in Austin, up 63 points (64%).
Austin, TX
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 Austin and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Irving rent is 6% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Irving
Winner$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,619 a month in Irving versus $1,729 in Austin, so Irving is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $110, or $1,320 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 Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Austin's median income is 14% higher than Irving
Austin
Winner$93,658
Irving
$81,830
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $81,830 in Irving, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Austin (about $11,828 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, Austin 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
39% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 39% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% 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. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Austin and Irving are about even on typical weather.
Austin
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irving
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% higher here ($93,658). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Irving is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,619 a month. Choose Irving if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Irving is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Austin (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
Austin carries the heavier crime signal on this page (45/100 safety vs 60/100 in Irving). That 15-point spread matters more than the $110 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Irving rent at $1,619/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,619 in Irving and $1,729 in Austin.
Pick Irving when you want the stronger safety signal (60/100). Otherwise, Austin's case rests on a Austin ZIP you trust at $1,729 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Irving?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Irving when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Irving, plus other cities in TX.
