City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 231 in Cincinnati, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 237, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cincinnati is cheaper. Median rent is $1,001 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Safety is where Cincinnati and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 132 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,001 in Cincinnati 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. Cincinnati 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. Cincinnati at $1,001 average has pockets that run $801 and others at $1,401: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Cincinnati and Irving are 820 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,001 a month in Cincinnati to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $618 a month (62%).
Median household income goes from $52,909 in Cincinnati to $81,830 in Irving, up $28,921 (55%).
The crime index goes from 231 in Cincinnati to 99 in Irving, down 132 points (57%).
The move
Irving and Cincinnati are 820 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,001 a month in Cincinnati, down $618 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $52,909 in Cincinnati, down $28,921 (35%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 231 in Cincinnati, up 132 points (133%).
Cincinnati, OH
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 Cincinnati and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
38% cheaper
Cincinnati rent is 38% cheaper than Irving
Cincinnati
Winner$1,001/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,001 a month in Cincinnati versus $1,619 in Irving, so Cincinnati is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $618/month back in your pocket ($7,416/year). Over five years that's $37,080 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 Irving, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Cincinnati 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
55% higher
Irving's median income is 55% higher than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
$52,909
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $52,909 in Cincinnati, so typical pay runs 55% higher in Irving (about $28,921 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. Cincinnati can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
57% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 57% lower than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
231 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 231 in Cincinnati (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% 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. Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati
Cincinnati
53°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 66/100
Irving
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cincinnati averages about 53°F (62°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati
Cincinnati is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 38% cheaper here at about $1,001 a month. Choose Cincinnati 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 55% 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 57% lower than Cincinnati (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 35/100 in Cincinnati). Typical rent is $1,619 in Irving and $1,001 in Cincinnati; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Irving still pays more locally ($81,830 median income vs $52,909), which can offset the lease if your field pays Irving rates.
Median income is $81,830 in Irving versus $52,909 in Cincinnati.
Irving is ahead on safety (60/100 vs 35/100); Cincinnati is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,001/month rent plus $52,909 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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