City comparison
Irving is safer than Orlando. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 241, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Irving, 2022 for Orlando.
Irving is cheaper. Median rent is $1,619 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Safety is where Orlando and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 143 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,747 in Orlando and $1,619 in Irving.
Irving is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Orlando 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 Orlando has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Orlando and Irving are 970 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,619 a month in Irving, down $128 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $81,830 in Irving, up $9,494 (13%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 99 in Irving, down 143 points (59%).
The move
Irving and Orlando are 970 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $128 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $72,336 in Orlando, down $9,494 (12%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 242 in Orlando, up 143 points (144%).
Orlando, FL
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 Orlando and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Irving rent is 7% cheaper than Orlando
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Irving
Winner$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,619 a month in Irving versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Irving is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $128, or $1,536 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
13% higher
Irving's median income is 13% higher than Orlando
Orlando
$72,336
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Irving (about $9,494 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. Orlando can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
59% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 59% lower than Orlando
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% 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. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Orlando and Irving are about even on typical weather.
Orlando
75°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irving
72°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Orlando averages about 75°F (82°F highs); Irving averages about 72°F (80°F highs). Orlando sits near 75°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Orlando
On these five categories Irving takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Orlando because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Orlando only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
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 7% 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 13% 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 59% lower than Orlando (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
Safety is the widest gap: Irving scores 60/100 versus 33/100 in Orlando. Rent is $1,619/month in Irving and $1,747/month in Orlando, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
With only $128 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,619 in Irving and $1,747 in Orlando.
Irving is ahead on safety (60/100 vs 33/100); Orlando is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,747/month rent plus $72,336 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Orlando and Irving, plus other cities in FL and TX.
