City comparison
No. Irvine's crime index is 51 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 24 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $2,997 in Irvine.
The income gap between Dallas and Irvine is significant: $70,518 median household versus $136,719. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,472 in Dallas and $2,997 in Irvine.
This is a genuine split. Dallas wins on cost of living and Irvine wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Dallas at $1,472 average has pockets that run $1,272 and others at $1,872: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Dallas and Irvine are 1,214 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $2,997 a month in Irvine, up $1,525 a month (104%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $136,719 in Irvine, up $66,201 (94%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 51 in Irvine, down 137 points (73%).
The move
Irvine and Dallas are 1,214 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,997 a month in Irvine to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $1,525 a month (51%).
Median household income goes from $136,719 in Irvine to $70,518 in Dallas, down $66,201 (48%).
The crime index goes from 51 in Irvine to 188 in Dallas, up 137 points (269%).
Dallas, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irvine, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Dallas and Irvine? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
51% cheaper
Dallas rent is 51% cheaper than Irvine
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Irvine
$2,997/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $2,997 in Irvine, so Dallas is 51% cheaper. That's roughly $1,525/month back in your pocket ($18,300/year). Over five years that's $91,500 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 Irvine, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Dallas is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Irvine? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
94% higher
Irvine's median income is 94% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Irvine
Winner$136,719
Median household income is $136,719 in Irvine versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 94% higher in Irvine (about $66,201 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, Irvine is the stronger labor market on paper. Dallas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
73% lower crime
Irvine's crime index is 73% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Irvine
Winner51 (100 = avg)
Irvine's crime index is 51 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 73% lower in Irvine. 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, Irvine is the easier city. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Dallas and Irvine are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irvine
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Irvine averages about 76°F (83°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irvine sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Dallas
Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 51% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas 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 and professional growth
Irvine is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 94% higher here ($136,719). Start with Irvine if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Irvine is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 73% lower than Dallas (51 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: Irvine scores 80/100 versus 41/100 in Dallas. Rent is $2,997/month in Irvine and $1,472/month in Dallas, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Irvine still pays more locally ($136,719 median income vs $70,518), which can offset the lease if your field pays Irvine rates.
Median income is $136,719 in Irvine versus $70,518 in Dallas.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Irvine; Dallas only makes sense when you have walked the Dallas ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,472 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Irvine, plus other cities in TX and CA.
