Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Irving leads 13 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Lancaster
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irving, TX
Pros
67% less violent crime than Lancaster
Homes cost $109k less ($259,500 vs $368,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Irving
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Median Income
$5,319
$76,686 vs $71,367/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
67% lower
275.4 vs 834.7 per 100k
Irving
Median Home Value
$109k less
$259,500 vs $368,800
Irving
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Lancaster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 ✓ Lower | $368,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $71,367 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 171,465 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 33.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 57.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 11.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Irving is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 13 of 23 categories. Irving wins 13 and Lancaster 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 Irving to Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $368,800 median home), income ($76,686 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Lancaster, CA are about 1,222 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.