Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 Irving leads 12 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Irving
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,686
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.
Denver, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,167 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $281k less ($259,500 vs $540,400)
72% less violent crime than Denver
Rent averages $242/mo less ($1,423 vs $1,665)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $9,167/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Median Income
$9,167
$85,853 vs $76,686/yr
Irving
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Violent Crime
72% lower
275.4 vs 993.0 per 100k
Irving
Median Home Value
$281k less
$259,500 vs $540,400
Irving
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.7% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Irving, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $259,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $76,686 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 14.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 1.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 254,962 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Irving is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 12 of 23 categories. Denver wins 11 and Irving wins 12. 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 Denver to Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $259,500 median home), income ($85,853 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Irving, TX are about 649 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.