City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Irving is cheaper. Median rent is $1,619 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
Safety is where Seattle and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 153 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,030 in Seattle 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. Seattle 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 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
Seattle and Irving are 1,672 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $1,619 a month in Irving, down $411 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $81,830 in Irving, down $42,030 (34%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 99 in Irving, down 153 points (61%).
The move
Irving and Seattle are 1,672 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $411 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $123,860 in Seattle, up $42,030 (51%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 252 in Seattle, up 153 points (155%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Irving rent is 20% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
Irving
Winner$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,619 a month in Irving versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Irving is 20% 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 $4,932, 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 Seattle.
Planning to buy in Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
51% higher
Seattle's median income is 51% higher than Irving
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Irving
$81,830
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $81,830 in Irving, so typical pay runs 51% higher in Seattle (about $42,030 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, Seattle 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
61% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 61% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 61% 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. Seattle 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 Seattle
Seattle
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Irving
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Seattle averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Irving sits near 70°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 Seattle 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
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 51% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle 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 20% 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 Seattle on this page's weather index by 39%. Seattle 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 61% lower than Seattle (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
Seattle carries the heavier crime signal on this page (32/100 safety vs 60/100 in Irving). That 28-point spread matters more than the $411 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Irving rent at $1,619/month is still below Seattle's $2,030, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,619 in Irving and $2,030 in Seattle.
Pick Irving when you want the stronger safety signal (60/100). Otherwise, Seattle's case rests on a Seattle ZIP you trust at $2,030 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Irving?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Irving when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Seattle and Irving, plus other cities in WA and TX.
