Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Conroe, TX
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 Conroe leads 13 of 23 categories
Conroe
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,630
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
92,475
Irving
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
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.
Conroe, TX
Pros
12% less violent crime than Irving
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.4%)
Rent averages $168/mo less ($1,255 vs $1,423)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 57°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Cons
Median income trails Irving by $5,056/yr
Irving, TX
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,056 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Conroe
Key Differences at a Glance
Conroe
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Conroe
Violent Crime
12% lower
243.5 vs 275.4 per 100k
Conroe
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.1% unemployment
Irving
Median Income
$5,056
$76,686 vs $71,630/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Conroe, TX | Irving, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $262,500 | $259,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 ✓ Lower | $1,423⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,630 | $76,686 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CONROE ISD | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.7°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.0" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,475 | 254,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Conroe's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Conroe is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Conroe leads 13 of 23 categories. Conroe wins 13 and Irving wins 10. 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 Conroe to Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($262,500 vs $259,500 median home), income ($71,630 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Conroe, TX and Irving, TX are about 196 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.