City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Safety is where Dallas and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 89 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Dallas and $1,619 in Irving.
This is a genuine split. Dallas wins on cost of living and Irving 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 crime gap is citywide. Irving has rougher pockets and Dallas has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Dallas and Irving are 9 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $147 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $81,830 in Irving, up $11,312 (16%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 99 in Irving, down 89 points (47%).
The move
Irving and Dallas are 9 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $147 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $70,518 in Dallas, down $11,312 (14%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 188 in Dallas, up 89 points (90%).
Dallas, TX
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 Dallas and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Dallas rent is 9% cheaper than Irving
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,619 in Irving, so Dallas is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $147, or $1,764 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 Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Irving's median income is 16% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Irving (about $11,312 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. 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
47% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 47% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% 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. 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 Irving are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irving
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Irving averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving sits near 67°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 9% 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
Irving is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 16% higher here ($81,830). Start with Irving if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Irving is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 47% lower than Dallas (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 41/100 in Dallas). Typical rent is $1,619 in Irving and $1,472 in Dallas; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Dallas rent at $1,472/month is still below Irving's $1,619, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,472 in Dallas and $1,619 in Irving.
Between Dallas and Irving, Irving is ahead on safety — 60/100 safety versus 41/100. Lean Dallas instead when you already know the Dallas block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Irving, plus other cities in TX.
