Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Irving leads 12 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,686
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $232k less ($259,500 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $438/mo less ($1,423 vs $1,861)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $21,193/yr
Norwalk, CT
Pros
69% less violent crime than Irving
Households earn $21,193 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.1%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Irving
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Median Home Value
$232k less
$259,500 vs $491,800
Irving
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.9% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 84.8°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$21,193
$97,879 vs $76,686/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
69% lower
85.0 vs 275.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 42.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Irving is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 12 of 23 categories. Irving wins 12 and Norwalk wins 11. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $491,800 median home), income ($76,686 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Norwalk, CT are about 1,413 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.