City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Irving is cheaper. Median rent is $1,619 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
Safety is where Portland and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 166 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,655 in Portland and $1,619 in Irving.
Irving is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Portland 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 Portland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Portland and Irving are 1,623 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,619 a month in Irving, down $36 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $81,830 in Irving, down $9,089 (10%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 99 in Irving, down 166 points (63%).
The move
Irving and Portland are 1,623 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $36 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $90,919 in Portland, up $9,089 (11%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 265 in Portland, up 166 points (168%).
Portland, OR
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 Portland and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Irving rent is 2% cheaper than Portland
Portland
$1,655/mo
Irving
Winner$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,619 a month in Irving versus $1,655 in Portland, so Irving is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $36, or $432 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
11% higher
Portland's median income is 11% higher than Irving
Portland
Winner$90,919
Irving
$81,830
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $81,830 in Irving, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Portland (about $9,089 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, Portland 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
63% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 63% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 63% 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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Irving weather is 16% more comfortable than Portland
Portland
60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Irving
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. Irving sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving scores 16% 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 Portland if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Portland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 11% higher here ($90,919). Start with Portland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Irving is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% 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.
Pick Irving if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (70°F) beat Portland on this page's weather index by 16%. Portland may pay more or cost less, but Irving is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Irving is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 63% lower than Portland (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 30/100 in Portland. Rent is $1,619/month in Irving and $1,655/month in Portland, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (60/100 in Irving vs 30/100 in Portland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $90,919 in Portland versus $81,830 in Irving.
Between Portland and Irving, Irving is ahead on safety — 60/100 safety versus 30/100. Lean Portland instead when you already know the Portland block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Portland and Irving, plus other cities in OR and TX.
