Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 15 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $52k less ($259,500 vs $311,100)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Rent averages $199/mo less ($1,423 vs $1,622)
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $34,437/yr
Higher unemployment (4.1% vs 3.2%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Pearland
Pearland, TX
Pros
65% less violent crime than Irving
Households earn $34,437 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Home Value
$52k less
$259,500 vs $311,100
Pearland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$34,437
$111,123 vs $76,686/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
65% lower
95.9 vs 275.4 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Pearland, 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 ✓ Lower | $311,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 93.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 15 of 23 categories. Irving wins 8 and Pearland wins 15. 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $311,100 median home), income ($76,686 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Pearland, TX are about 248 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.