City comparison
Irving is safer than Fort Worth. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 135 in Fort Worth, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 36 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,619 in Irving.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Fort Worth and Irving are 22 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $110 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $81,830 in Irving, up $2,323 (3%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 99 in Irving, down 36 points (27%).
The move
Irving and Fort Worth are 22 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $110 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $79,507 in Fort Worth, down $2,323 (3%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 135 in Fort Worth, up 36 points (36%).
Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 7% cheaper than Irving
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $1,619 in Irving, so Fort Worth is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $110, or $1,320 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
3% higher
Irving's median income is 3% higher than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$79,507
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $79,507 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Irving (about $2,323 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
27% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 27% lower than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
135 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 135 in Fort Worth (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% 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. Fort Worth can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Fort Worth and Irving are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
70°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irving
72°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 70°F (77°F highs); Irving averages about 72°F (80°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving sits near 72°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 Fort Worth
Fort Worth is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,509 a month. Choose Fort Worth 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 3% 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 27% lower than Fort Worth (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Irving: Irving scores 60/100 versus 51/100 in Fort Worth, with typical rent at $1,619 versus $1,509. I would vet the exact ZIP in Fort Worth before trading 9 safety points for housing savings.
With only $110 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $81,830 in Irving versus $79,507 in Fort Worth.
If safety drives your move, Irving is the stronger match (60/100 safety versus 51/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Fort Worth, treat $1,509/month rent and $79,507 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fort Worth and Irving, plus other cities in TX.
