City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 162 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia 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. Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and Irving are 1,304 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $222 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $81,830 in Irving, up $19,877 (32%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 99 in Irving, down 162 points (62%).
The move
Irving and Philadelphia are 1,304 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $222 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $19,877 (24%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 261 in Philadelphia, up 162 points (164%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 14% cheaper than Irving
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,619 in Irving, so Philadelphia 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 $2,664, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Philadelphia 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
32% higher
Irving's median income is 32% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Irving (about $19,877 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. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
62% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 62% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% 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. Philadelphia can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Irving weather is 39% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Irving
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Philadelphia averages about 55°F (61°F highs); Irving averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Irving sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving scores 39% 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,397 a month. Choose Philadelphia 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 32% higher ($81,830), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°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 62% lower than Philadelphia (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
Philadelphia carries the heavier crime signal on this page (31/100 safety vs 60/100 in Irving). That 29-point spread matters more than the $222 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (60/100 in Irving vs 31/100 in Philadelphia), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $81,830 in Irving versus $61,953 in Philadelphia.
If safety drives your move, Irving is the stronger match (60/100 safety versus 31/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Philadelphia, treat $1,397/month rent and $61,953 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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