Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Corpus Christi, TX
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 Corpus Christi leads 12 of 23 categories
Corpus Christi
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,449
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
317,804 ✓ Larger
Irving
Texas
11
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.
Corpus Christi, TX
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($180,900 vs $259,500)
Rent averages $245/mo less ($1,178 vs $1,423)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 57°F
Cons
Violent crime (863.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Irving by $12,237/yr
Property crime (3011.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.1%)
Irving, TX
Pros
68% less violent crime than Corpus Christi
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $12,237 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Corpus Christi
Key Differences at a Glance
Corpus Christi
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Corpus Christi
Median Home Value
$79k less
$180,900 vs $259,500
Irving
Median Income
$12,237
$76,686 vs $64,449/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
68% lower
275.4 vs 863.6 per 100k
Irving
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.6% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 88.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Corpus Christi, TX | Irving, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $180,900 ✓ Lower | $259,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,178 ✓ Lower | $1,423⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,449 | $76,686 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.5% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 194⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 143⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.0% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CORPUS CHRISTI ISD | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.3°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.1" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 317,804 ✓ Larger | 254,962 |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Corpus Christi's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Corpus Christi is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Corpus Christi leads 12 of 23 categories. Corpus Christi wins 12 and Irving wins 11. 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 Corpus Christi to Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($180,900 vs $259,500 median home), income ($64,449 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Corpus Christi, TX and Irving, TX are about 353 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.