City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 99 in Irving, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 78, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Irving is cheaper. Median rent is $1,619 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Irving and Garland are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,619 in Irving and $1,641 in Garland, and median household income lands at $81,830 versus $76,320. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. Irving wins on cost of living and the job market and Garland wins on safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Irving and Garland are 19 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $22 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $76,320 in Garland, down $5,510 (7%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 87 in Garland, down 12 points (12%).
The move
Garland and Irving are 19 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,619 a month in Irving, down $22 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $81,830 in Irving, up $5,510 (7%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 99 in Irving, up 12 points (14%).
Irving, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Garland, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Irving and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Irving rent is 1% cheaper than Garland
Irving
Winner$1,619/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,619 a month in Irving versus $1,641 in Garland, so Irving is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $22, or $264 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
7% higher
Irving's median income is 7% higher than Garland
Irving
Winner$81,830
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Irving (about $5,510 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
12% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 12% lower than Irving
Irving
99 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 99 in Irving (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 12% lower in Garland. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Garland, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Irving. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Irving and Garland are about even on typical weather.
Irving
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Irving sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland sits near 66°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Irving is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,619 a month. Choose Irving if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Irving is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 7% higher here ($81,830). Start with Irving if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 12% lower than Irving (87 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 Garland leads on safety (64/100 vs 60/100 in Irving). With rent tied near $1,641/month, do not assume either lease buys the calmer blocks.
Median income is $81,830 in Irving versus $76,320 in Garland — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Garland; Irving only makes sense when you have walked the Irving ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,619 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Irving?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Irving when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Irving and Garland, plus other cities in TX.
