City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 164 in Columbus, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 140, using 2024 FBI data for Columbus and 2024-2025 FBI data for Irving.
Columbus is cheaper. Median rent is $1,295 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Columbus and Irving. Columbus averages 53°F while Irving averages 67°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,295 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. Columbus 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. Columbus at $1,295 average has pockets that run $1,095 and others at $1,695: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Columbus and Irving are 918 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,295 a month in Columbus to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $324 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $66,082 in Columbus to $81,830 in Irving, up $15,748 (24%).
The crime index goes from 164 in Columbus to 99 in Irving, down 65 points (40%).
The move
Irving and Columbus are 918 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,295 a month in Columbus, down $324 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $66,082 in Columbus, down $15,748 (19%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 164 in Columbus, up 65 points (66%).
Columbus, 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 Columbus and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Columbus rent is 20% cheaper than Irving
Columbus
Winner$1,295/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,295 a month in Columbus versus $1,619 in Irving, so Columbus is 20% 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 $3,888, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Columbus 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
24% higher
Irving's median income is 24% higher than Columbus
Columbus
$66,082
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $66,082 in Columbus, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Irving (about $15,748 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. Columbus can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
40% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 40% lower than Columbus
Columbus
164 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 164 in Columbus (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 40% 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. Columbus 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 Columbus
Columbus
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Irving
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Columbus averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Irving averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Columbus averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Irving sits near 67°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 Columbus 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 Columbus
Columbus is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,295 a month. Choose Columbus 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 24% higher ($81,830), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°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 40% lower than Columbus (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 45/100 in Columbus). Typical rent is $1,619 in Irving and $1,295 in Columbus; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (60/100 in Irving vs 45/100 in Columbus), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,295 in Columbus and $1,619 in Irving.
Irving is ahead on safety (60/100 vs 45/100); Columbus is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,295/month rent plus $66,082 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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