Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 Irving leads 14 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Irving
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
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.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Irving by $2,616/yr
Irving, TX
Pros
62% less violent crime than Charlotte
Homes cost $53k less ($259,500 vs $312,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $2,616 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Charlotte
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Median Income
$2,616
$76,686 vs $74,070/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
62% lower
275.4 vs 733.2 per 100k
Irving
Median Home Value
$53k less
$259,500 vs $312,800
Irving
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.7% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Irving, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High | $259,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,423⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 | $76,686 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 14.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" | 1.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 254,962 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 14 of 23 categories. Charlotte 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 Charlotte to Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $259,500 median home), income ($74,070 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Irving, TX are about 937 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.