Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Pasadena, 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 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irving, TX
Pros
51% less violent crime than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $11,988 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Pasadena
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($171,600 vs $259,500)
Rent averages $264/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,423)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 57°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Irving by $11,988/yr
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Income
$11,988
$76,686 vs $64,698/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
51% lower
275.4 vs 566.1 per 100k
Irving
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$88k less
$171,600 vs $259,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 92.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 11.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 13 of 23 categories. Irving wins 13 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $171,600 median home), income ($76,686 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Pasadena, TX are about 246 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.