Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Irving
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,686
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
38% less violent crime than Irving
Households earn $18,884 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.1%)
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $338k less ($259,500 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $747/mo less ($1,423 vs $2,170)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.1%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $18,884/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$18,884
$95,570 vs $76,686/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
38% lower
171.0 vs 275.4 per 100k
Irving
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Median Home Value
$338k less
$259,500 vs $597,100
Irving
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.9% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Irving, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $259,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $76,686 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 14.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 254,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Irving is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 14 and Irving wins 9. 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 Boca Raton to Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $259,500 median home), income ($95,570 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Irving, TX are about 1,106 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.