City comparison
Irving is safer than Richmond. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 169 in Richmond, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Richmond is cheaper. Median rent is $1,372 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Safety is where Irving and Richmond split most clearly. Irving scores 70 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,619 in Irving and $1,372 in Richmond.
Irving is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Richmond 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 Richmond has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Irving and Richmond are 1,146 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,372 a month in Richmond, down $247 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $64,587 in Richmond, down $17,243 (21%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 169 in Richmond, up 70 points (71%).
The move
Richmond and Irving are 1,146 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $247 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $81,830 in Irving, up $17,243 (27%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 99 in Irving, down 70 points (41%).
Irving, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Irving and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Richmond rent is 15% cheaper than Irving
Irving
$1,619/mo
Richmond
Winner$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,372 a month in Richmond versus $1,619 in Irving, so Richmond is 15% 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 $2,964, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Richmond 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
27% higher
Irving's median income is 27% higher than Richmond
Irving
Winner$81,830
Richmond
$64,587
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 27% higher in Irving (about $17,243 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. Richmond can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
41% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 41% lower than Richmond
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Richmond
169 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 169 in Richmond (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 41% 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. Richmond can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Irving weather is 12% more comfortable than Richmond
Irving
Winner72°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Richmond
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Irving averages about 72°F (80°F highs); Richmond averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Irving sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Richmond averages around 61°F. Irving scores 12% 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 Richmond if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 27% higher ($81,830), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 72°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 41% lower than Richmond (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Richmond
Richmond is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,372 a month. Choose Richmond if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Irving leads on safety (60/100 vs 44/100 in Richmond). Typical rent is $1,619 in Irving and $1,372 in Richmond; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Richmond rent at $1,372/month is still below Irving's $1,619, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,372 in Richmond and $1,619 in Irving.
Between Irving and Richmond, Irving is ahead on safety — 60/100 safety versus 44/100. Lean Richmond instead when you already know the Richmond block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Irving and Richmond, plus other cities in TX and VA.
