City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 136 in Newark, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 159, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
The income gap between Newark and Irving is significant: $52,060 median household versus $81,830. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,392 in Newark 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. Newark 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 Newark has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Newark and Irving are 1,369 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $227 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $81,830 in Irving, up $29,770 (57%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 99 in Irving, down 37 points (27%).
The move
Irving and Newark are 1,369 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $227 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $52,060 in Newark, down $29,770 (36%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 136 in Newark, up 37 points (37%).
Newark, NJ
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 Newark and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Newark rent is 14% cheaper than Irving
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,619 in Irving, so Newark is 14% 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 $2,724, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Newark 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
57% higher
Irving's median income is 57% higher than Newark
Newark
$52,060
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 57% higher in Irving (about $29,770 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. Newark can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
27% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 27% lower than Newark
Newark
136 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 136 in Newark (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. Newark can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
Irving weather is 45% more comfortable than Newark
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Irving
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Newark averages around 54°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 45% 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 Newark 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 Newark
Newark is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,392 a month. Choose Newark 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 57% 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 27% lower than Newark (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
Pay is the headline: Irving median income is $81,830 versus $52,060 in Newark (36% higher). Rent still runs $1,619/month in Irving and $1,392/month in Newark, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Irving rates.
Safety still diverges (60/100 in Irving vs 51/100 in Newark), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Safety scores read 51/100 in Newark and 60/100 in Irving.
Irving clears the bar on local pay in this dataset. Newark deserves a serious look only when keeping rent near $1,392/month beats chasing $81,830 median income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Newark and Irving, plus other cities in NJ and TX.
