Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 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
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Norman
Oklahoma
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irving, TX
Pros
Households earn $13,837 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 50°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Norman
Norman, OK
Pros
Rent averages $419/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,423)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $35k less ($224,900 vs $259,500)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Irving by $13,837/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Income
$13,837
$76,686 vs $62,849/yr
Irving
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.8% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 92.5°F
Norman
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Violent Crime
6% lower
260.2 vs 275.4 per 100k
Norman
Median Home Value
$35k less
$224,900 vs $259,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 | $224,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $1,004 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $62,849 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 37.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" ✓ Less | 4.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 127,701 |
| Median Age | 32.4 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 13 of 23 categories. Irving wins 13 and Norman 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $224,900 median home), income ($76,686 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Norman, OK are about 166 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.