City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 201 in Charlotte, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 187, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Charlotte is cheaper. Median rent is $1,612 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Safety is where Charlotte and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 102 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,612 in Charlotte and $1,619 in Irving.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Charlotte 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 Charlotte has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Charlotte and Irving are 936 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,612 a month in Charlotte to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $7 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $82,068 in Charlotte to $81,830 in Irving, down $238 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 201 in Charlotte to 99 in Irving, down 102 points (51%).
The move
Irving and Charlotte are 936 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,612 a month in Charlotte, down $7 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $82,068 in Charlotte, up $238 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 201 in Charlotte, up 102 points (103%).
Charlotte, NC
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 Charlotte and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Charlotte rent is 1% cheaper than Irving
Charlotte
Winner$1,612/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,612 a month in Charlotte versus $1,619 in Irving, so Charlotte is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $7, or $84 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 Charlotte? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Charlotte's median income is 1% higher than Irving
Charlotte
Winner$82,068
Irving
$81,830
Median household income is $82,068 in Charlotte versus $81,830 in Irving, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Charlotte (about $238 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
51% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 51% lower than Charlotte
Charlotte
201 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 201 in Charlotte (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 51% 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. Charlotte can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Irving weather is 25% more comfortable than Charlotte
Charlotte
58°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 80/100
Irving
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Charlotte averages about 58°F (68°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Charlotte averages around 58°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 25% 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 Charlotte 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
Charlotte is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,612 a month. Choose Charlotte if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Charlotte is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($82,068). Start with Charlotte 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 Charlotte on this page's weather index by 25%. Charlotte 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 51% lower than Charlotte (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Irving leads on safety (60/100 vs 39/100 in Charlotte). With rent tied near $1,619/month, do not assume either lease buys the calmer blocks.
Median income is $82,068 in Charlotte versus $81,830 in Irving — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Between Charlotte and Irving, Irving is ahead on safety — 60/100 safety versus 39/100. Lean Charlotte instead when you already know the Charlotte block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Weather averages land near 58°F in Charlotte and 70°F in Irving.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Charlotte when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Charlotte and Irving, plus other cities in NC and TX.
