City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 195 in Fresno, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 211, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fresno is cheaper. Median rent is $1,421 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Safety is where Fresno and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 96 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,421 in Fresno and $1,619 in Irving.
This is a genuine split. Fresno 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 Fresno has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Fresno and Irving are 1,320 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,421 a month in Fresno to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $198 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $70,991 in Fresno to $81,830 in Irving, up $10,839 (15%).
The crime index goes from 195 in Fresno to 99 in Irving, down 96 points (49%).
The move
Irving and Fresno are 1,320 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,421 a month in Fresno, down $198 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $70,991 in Fresno, down $10,839 (13%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 195 in Fresno, up 96 points (97%).
Fresno, CA
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 Fresno and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Fresno rent is 12% cheaper than Irving
Fresno
Winner$1,421/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,421 a month in Fresno versus $1,619 in Irving, so Fresno is 12% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,376, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Fresno still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Irving.
Planning to buy in Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Irving's median income is 15% higher than Fresno
Fresno
$70,991
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $70,991 in Fresno, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Irving (about $10,839 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. Fresno can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
49% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 49% lower than Fresno
Fresno
195 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 195 in Fresno (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. Fresno can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Fresno and Irving are about even on typical weather.
Fresno
74°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irving
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fresno averages about 74°F (84°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Fresno sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving sits near 70°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 Fresno
Fresno is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,421 a month. Choose Fresno 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 15% 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 49% lower than Fresno (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 40/100 in Fresno). Typical rent is $1,619 in Irving and $1,421 in Fresno; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $198 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $81,830 in Irving versus $70,991 in Fresno.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Irving; Fresno only makes sense when you have walked the Fresno ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,421 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 Fresno and Irving, plus other cities in CA and TX.
