Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 Irving leads 14 of 23 categories
Anaheim
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Irving
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,686
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Households earn $11,852 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $454k less ($259,500 vs $713,600)
54% less violent crime than Anaheim
Rent averages $535/mo less ($1,423 vs $1,958)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.1%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Anaheim by $11,852/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Income
$11,852
$88,538 vs $76,686/yr
Irving
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Violent Crime
54% lower
275.4 vs 596.2 per 100k
Irving
Median Home Value
$454k less
$259,500 vs $713,600
Irving
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.4% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Irving, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $259,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 ✓ Higher | $76,686 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 79.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 254,962 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Irving is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 14 of 23 categories. Anaheim wins 9 and Irving wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anaheim to Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $259,500 median home), income ($88,538 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Irving, TX are about 1,200 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.