City comparison
Yes. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 99 in Irving, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 78, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Irving is cheaper. Median rent is $1,619 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Plano and Irving split most clearly. Plano scores 37 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,841 in Plano and $1,619 in Irving.
This is a genuine split. Plano wins on the job market and safety and Irving wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Plano has rougher pockets and Irving has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Plano and Irving are 20 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,619 a month in Irving, down $222 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $81,830 in Irving, down $30,423 (27%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 99 in Irving, up 37 points (60%).
The move
Irving and Plano are 20 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $222 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $112,253 in Plano, up $30,423 (37%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 62 in Plano, down 37 points (37%).
Plano, TX
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 Plano and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Irving rent is 12% cheaper than Plano
Plano
$1,841/mo
Irving
Winner$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,619 a month in Irving versus $1,841 in Plano, so Irving is 12% 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. Irving still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Plano.
Planning to buy in Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
37% higher
Plano's median income is 37% higher than Irving
Plano
Winner$112,253
Irving
$81,830
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $81,830 in Irving, so typical pay runs 37% higher in Plano (about $30,423 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, Plano 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
37% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 37% lower than Irving
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Irving
99 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 99 in Irving (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 37% lower in Plano. 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, Plano is the easier city. Irving can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Plano and Irving are about even on typical weather.
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irving
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Plano sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving sits near 70°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
Plano is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 37% higher here ($112,253). Start with Plano if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 37% lower than Irving (62 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 Irving
Irving is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% 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.
Bottom line
Irving carries the heavier crime signal on this page (60/100 safety vs 75/100 in Plano). That 15-point spread matters more than the $222 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Irving rent at $1,619/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,619 in Irving and $1,841 in Plano.
Pick Plano when you want the stronger safety signal (75/100). Otherwise, Irving's case rests on a Irving ZIP you trust at $1,619 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Plano and Irving, plus other cities in TX.
