City comparison
Irving is safer than Oakland. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Irving is cheaper. Median rent is $1,619 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
Safety is where Oakland and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 335 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,979 in Oakland and $1,619 in Irving.
This is a genuine split. Oakland wins on the job market and Irving wins on cost of living 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Irving at $1,619 average has pockets that run $1,419 and others at $2,019: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Oakland and Irving are 1,464 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,619 a month in Irving, down $360 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $81,830 in Irving, down $19,770 (19%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 99 in Irving, down 335 points (77%).
The move
Irving and Oakland are 1,464 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $360 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $101,600 in Oakland, up $19,770 (24%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 434 in Oakland, up 335 points (338%).
Oakland, 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 Oakland and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Irving rent is 18% cheaper than Oakland
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Irving
Winner$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,619 a month in Irving versus $1,979 in Oakland, so Irving is 18% 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 $4,320, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Irving still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Oakland.
Planning to buy in Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Oakland's median income is 24% higher than Irving
Oakland
Winner$101,600
Irving
$81,830
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $81,830 in Irving, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Oakland (about $19,770 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, Oakland is the stronger labor market on paper. Irving can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
77% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 77% lower than Oakland
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 77% 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. Oakland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Oakland and Irving are about even on typical weather.
Oakland
67°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irving
72°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oakland averages about 67°F (81°F highs); Irving averages about 72°F (80°F highs). Oakland sits near 67°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Oakland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 24% higher here ($101,600). Start with Oakland 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
Irving is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 77% lower than Oakland (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
Oakland carries the heavier crime signal on this page (15/100 safety vs 60/100 in Irving). That 45-point spread matters more than the $360 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Oakland still pays more locally ($101,600 median income vs $81,830), which can offset the lease if your field pays Oakland rates.
Median income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $81,830 in Irving.
If safety drives your move, Irving is the stronger match (60/100 safety versus 15/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Oakland, treat $1,979/month rent and $101,600 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 Oakland and Irving, plus other cities in CA and TX.
