City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 165 in St Petersburg, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 167, using 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg and 2024-2025 FBI data for Irving.
Irving is cheaper. Median rent is $1,619 a month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Safety is where St Petersburg and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 66 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,663 in St Petersburg 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. St Petersburg 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 St Petersburg has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
St Petersburg and Irving are 914 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,619 a month in Irving, down $44 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $81,830 in Irving, up $6,638 (9%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 99 in Irving, down 66 points (40%).
The move
Irving and St Petersburg are 914 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, up $44 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $75,192 in St Petersburg, down $6,638 (8%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 165 in St Petersburg, up 66 points (67%).
St Petersburg, 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 St Petersburg and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Irving rent is 3% cheaper than St Petersburg
St Petersburg
$1,663/mo
Irving
Winner$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,619 a month in Irving versus $1,663 in St Petersburg, so Irving is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $44, or $528 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
9% higher
Irving's median income is 9% higher than St Petersburg
St Petersburg
$75,192
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $75,192 in St Petersburg, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Irving (about $6,638 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
40% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 40% lower than St Petersburg
St Petersburg
165 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 165 in St Petersburg (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 40% 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. St Petersburg can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
St Petersburg and Irving are about even on typical weather.
St Petersburg
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irving
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). St Petersburg sits near 77°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Petersburg
On these five categories Irving takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose St Petersburg because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose St Petersburg 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 3% 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 9% 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 40% lower than St Petersburg (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Irving leads on safety (60/100 vs 45/100 in St Petersburg). Typical rent is $1,619 in Irving and $1,663 in St Petersburg; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $44 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,619 in Irving and $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Irving is ahead on safety (60/100 vs 45/100); St Petersburg is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,663/month rent plus $75,192 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 St Petersburg and Irving, plus other cities in FL and TX.
