Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 13 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Irving
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,686
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.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $71,541 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Irving
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Irving
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $378k less ($259,500 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $930/mo less ($1,423 vs $2,353)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 45°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $71,541/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$71,541
$148,227 vs $76,686/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
50% lower
138.1 vs 275.4 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.1% unemployment
Irving
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Median Home Value
$378k less
$259,500 vs $637,400
Irving
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, 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 | $637,400⚠ High | $259,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $76,686 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 14.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 1.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 254,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch'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, Highlands Ranch leads 13 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch 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 Highlands Ranch to Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $259,500 median home), income ($148,227 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Irving, TX are about 642 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.