City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Baltimore is cheaper. Median rent is $1,331 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Safety is where Baltimore and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 239 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,619 in Irving.
Irving is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Baltimore makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Irving is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Baltimore at $1,331 average has pockets that run $1,131 and others at $1,731: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Baltimore and Irving are 1,218 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $288 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $81,830 in Irving, up $19,653 (32%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 99 in Irving, down 239 points (71%).
The move
Irving and Baltimore are 1,218 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, down $288 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $19,653 (24%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 338 in Baltimore, up 239 points (241%).
Baltimore, MD
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 Baltimore and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Baltimore rent is 18% cheaper than Irving
Baltimore
Winner$1,331/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,331 a month in Baltimore versus $1,619 in Irving, so Baltimore is 18% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,456, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Baltimore still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Irving.
Planning to buy in Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
32% higher
Irving's median income is 32% higher than Baltimore
Baltimore
$62,177
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Irving (about $19,653 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, Irving is the stronger labor market on paper. Baltimore can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
71% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 71% lower than Baltimore
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% 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. Baltimore can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Irving weather is 39% more comfortable than Baltimore
Baltimore
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Irving
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Baltimore averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Baltimore averages around 55°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 39% 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 Baltimore if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Baltimore
Baltimore is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,331 a month. Choose Baltimore if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 32% higher ($81,830), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 70°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Irving is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 71% lower than Baltimore (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Irving: Irving scores 60/100 versus 23/100 in Baltimore, with typical rent at $1,619 versus $1,331. I would vet the exact ZIP in Baltimore before trading 37 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (60/100 in Irving vs 23/100 in Baltimore), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $81,830 in Irving versus $62,177 in Baltimore.
Pick Irving when you want the stronger safety signal (60/100). Otherwise, Baltimore's case rests on a Baltimore ZIP you trust at $1,331 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Baltimore and Irving, plus other cities in MD and TX.
