City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 374 in Detroit, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 496, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Detroit is cheaper. Median rent is $1,132 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Safety is where Detroit and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 275 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,132 in Detroit 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. Detroit 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. Detroit at $1,132 average has pockets that run $932 and others at $1,532: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Detroit and Irving are 1,004 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,132 a month in Detroit to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $487 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $60,539 in Detroit to $81,830 in Irving, up $21,291 (35%).
The crime index goes from 374 in Detroit to 99 in Irving, down 275 points (74%).
The move
Irving and Detroit are 1,004 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,132 a month in Detroit, down $487 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $60,539 in Detroit, down $21,291 (26%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 374 in Detroit, up 275 points (278%).
Detroit, MI
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 Detroit and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Detroit rent is 30% cheaper than Irving
Detroit
Winner$1,132/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,132 a month in Detroit versus $1,619 in Irving, so Detroit is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $487/month back in your pocket ($5,844/year). Over five years that's $29,220 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, Detroit 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
35% higher
Irving's median income is 35% higher than Detroit
Detroit
$60,539
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $60,539 in Detroit, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Irving (about $21,291 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. Detroit can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
74% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 74% lower than Detroit
Detroit
374 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 374 in Detroit (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 74% 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. Detroit can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Irving weather is 39% more comfortable than Detroit
Detroit
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Irving
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Detroit averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Detroit averages around 55°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 39% 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 Detroit 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 Detroit
Detroit is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 30% cheaper here at about $1,132 a month. Choose Detroit 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 35% 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 74% lower than Detroit (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 20/100 in Detroit). Typical rent is $1,619 in Irving and $1,132 in Detroit; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Irving still pays more locally ($81,830 median income vs $60,539), which can offset the lease if your field pays Irving rates.
Median income is $81,830 in Irving versus $60,539 in Detroit.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Irving; Detroit only makes sense when you have walked the Detroit ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,132 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Detroit and Irving, plus other cities in MI and TX.
