City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 147 in Boston, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 175, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Irving is cheaper. Median rent is $1,619 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Boston and Irving. Boston averages 50°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 $2,147 versus $1,619.
Irving is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Boston 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. Irving at $1,619 average has pockets that run $1,419 and others at $2,019: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Boston and Irving are 1,555 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,619 a month in Irving, down $528 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $81,830 in Irving, down $15,514 (16%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 99 in Irving, down 48 points (33%).
The move
Irving and Boston are 1,555 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $528 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $97,344 in Boston, up $15,514 (19%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 147 in Boston, up 48 points (48%).
Boston, MA
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 Boston and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Irving rent is 25% cheaper than Boston
Boston
$2,147/mo
Irving
Winner$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,619 a month in Irving versus $2,147 in Boston, so Irving is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $528/month back in your pocket ($6,336/year). Over five years that's $31,680 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Boston, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Irving is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
19% higher
Boston's median income is 19% higher than Irving
Boston
Winner$97,344
Irving
$81,830
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $81,830 in Irving, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Boston (about $15,514 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, Boston 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
33% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 33% lower than Boston
Boston
147 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 147 in Boston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% 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. Boston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Irving weather is 72% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
50°F avg · 56°F highs · comfort 58/100
Irving
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boston averages about 50°F (56°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Boston averages around 50°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 72% 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 Boston 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
Boston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 19% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston 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
Irving is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% 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.
Pick Irving if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (70°F) beat Boston on this page's weather index by 72%. Boston 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 33% lower than Boston (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
On weather alone, Irving is the warmer market (70°F) and Boston the cooler (50°F). Typical leases run $1,619 and $2,147; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Boston still pays more locally ($97,344 median income vs $81,830), which can offset the lease if your field pays Boston rates.
Safety scores read 48/100 in Boston and 60/100 in Irving.
Between Boston and Irving, Irving is ahead on climate — 70°F typical weather versus 50°F. Lean Boston instead when you would rather tolerate 50°F than optimize for Irving's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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