Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 14 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Irvine
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $755k less ($270,700 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1444/mo less ($1,305 vs $2,749)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $58,963/yr
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $58,963 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Dallas
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 97°F
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Dallas
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Dallas
Median Home Value
$755k less
$270,700 vs $1,025,700
Dallas
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Dallas
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$58,963
$122,948 vs $63,985/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
87% lower
84.0 vs 658.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 304,527 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 43.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Dallas is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 14 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 9 and Irvine 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 Dallas to Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($63,985 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Irvine, CA are about 1,213 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.