Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Irving leads 13 of 22 categories
Irving
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,686
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962
Sacramento
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $191k less ($259,500 vs $450,500)
64% less violent crime than Sacramento
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.1%)
Rent averages $169/mo less ($1,423 vs $1,592)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Violent Crime
64% lower
275.4 vs 754.9 per 100k
Irving
Median Home Value
$191k less
$259,500 vs $450,500
Irving
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sacramento
Median Income
$2,268
$78,954 vs $76,686/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 94.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Irving is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Irving leads 13 of 22 categories. Irving wins 13 and Sacramento wins 9. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $450,500 median home), income ($76,686 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Sacramento, CA are about 1,425 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.