Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Lubbock, TX
🏆 Irving leads 13 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962
Lubbock
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irving, TX
Pros
66% less violent crime than Lubbock
Households earn $17,952 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Lubbock
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($181,600 vs $259,500)
Rent averages $330/mo less ($1,093 vs $1,423)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Irving by $17,952/yr
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Income
$17,952
$76,686 vs $58,734/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
66% lower
275.4 vs 821.0 per 100k
Irving
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.6% unemployment
Lubbock
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$78k less
$181,600 vs $259,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Lubbock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 | $181,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $1,093 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $58,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | LUBBOCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 55.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 92.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 20.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" ✓ Less | 7.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 | 258,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 ✓ Older | 30.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 51.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lubbock's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 13 of 23 categories. Irving wins 13 and Lubbock 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 Lubbock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $181,600 median home), income ($76,686 vs $58,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Lubbock, TX are about 288 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.