City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Safety is where Durham and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 94 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,508 in Durham 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. Durham 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 crime gap is citywide. Irving has rougher pockets and Durham has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Durham and Irving are 1,051 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $111 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $81,830 in Irving, up $211 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 99 in Irving, down 94 points (49%).
The move
Irving and Durham are 1,051 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $111 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $81,619 in Durham, down $211 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 193 in Durham, up 94 points (95%).
Durham, NC
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 Durham and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Durham rent is 7% cheaper than Irving
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,619 in Irving, so Durham is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $111, or $1,332 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
1% higher
Irving's median income is 1% higher than Durham
Durham
$81,619
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Irving (about $211 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
49% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 49% lower than Durham
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 49% 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. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Irving weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Irving
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Durham averages around 59°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 20% 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 Durham 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 Durham
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,508 a month. Choose Durham 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 1% 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 49% lower than Durham (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
Durham carries the heavier crime signal on this page (40/100 safety vs 60/100 in Irving). That 20-point spread matters more than the $111 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (60/100 in Irving vs 40/100 in Durham), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,508 in Durham and $1,619 in Irving.
Pick Irving when you want the stronger safety signal (60/100). Otherwise, Durham's case rests on a Durham ZIP you trust at $1,508 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Irving when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Durham and Irving, plus other cities in NC and TX.
