Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 Irving leads 14 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Irving
Texas
14
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.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $75k less ($184,600 vs $259,500)
Rent averages $377/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,423)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Irving by $17,576/yr
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.1%)
Irving, TX
Pros
69% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Households earn $17,576 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Indianapolis
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$75k less
$184,600 vs $259,500
Irving
Median Income
$17,576
$76,686 vs $59,110/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
69% lower
275.4 vs 877.9 per 100k
Irving
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.6% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 83.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Irving, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $259,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 ✓ Lower | $1,423⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $76,686 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 1.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 254,962 |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 14 of 23 categories. Indianapolis wins 9 and Irving 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 Indianapolis to Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $259,500 median home), income ($59,110 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Irving, TX are about 768 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.