Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 Durham leads 12 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ 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.
Durham, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $127/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,423)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Irving, TX
Pros
56% less violent crime than Durham
Homes cost $57k less ($259,500 vs $316,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 49°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Durham
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Median Income
$1,976
$76,686 vs $74,710/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
56% lower
275.4 vs 619.2 per 100k
Irving
Median Home Value
$57k less
$259,500 vs $316,600
Irving
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Irving, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $259,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,423⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $76,686 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 14.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 1.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 254,962 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Durham is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 12 of 23 categories. Durham 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 Durham to Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $259,500 median home), income ($74,710 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Irving, TX are about 1,051 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.