City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Chicago is cheaper. Median rent is $1,440 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Chicago and Irving. Chicago averages 53°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 $1,440 versus $1,619.
Irving is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Chicago 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 crime gap is citywide. Irving has rougher pockets and Chicago has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Chicago and Irving are 806 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $179 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $81,830 in Irving, up $3,928 (5%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 99 in Irving, down 68 points (41%).
The move
Irving and Chicago are 806 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,440 a month in Chicago, down $179 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $77,902 in Chicago, down $3,928 (5%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 167 in Chicago, up 68 points (69%).
Chicago, IL
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 Chicago and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Chicago rent is 11% cheaper than Irving
Chicago
Winner$1,440/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,440 a month in Chicago versus $1,619 in Irving, so Chicago is 11% 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 $2,148, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Chicago 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
5% higher
Irving's median income is 5% higher than Chicago
Chicago
$77,902
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $77,902 in Chicago, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Irving (about $3,928 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
41% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 41% lower than Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 41% 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. Chicago can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Irving weather is 52% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Irving
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chicago averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Chicago averages around 53°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 52% 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 Chicago 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 Chicago
Chicago is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,440 a month. Choose Chicago 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 5% 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 41% lower than Chicago (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
Safety is the widest gap: Irving scores 60/100 versus 44/100 in Chicago. Rent is $1,619/month in Irving and $1,440/month in Chicago, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (60/100 in Irving vs 44/100 in Chicago), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,440 in Chicago and $1,619 in Irving.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Irving; Chicago only makes sense when you have walked the Chicago ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,440 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Irving when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Chicago and Irving, plus other cities in IL and TX.
