Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 15 of 22 categories
Irving
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,686
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Sunnyvale
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1421k less ($259,500 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1567/mo less ($1,423 vs $2,990)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Smaller class sizes — 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $97,820/yr
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $97,820 more per year on average
11% less violent crime than Irving
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Irving
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Median Home Value
$1421k less
$259,500 vs $1,680,700
Irving
Summer Heat
18.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$97,820
$174,506 vs $76,686/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
11% lower
244.5 vs 275.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Irving is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 15 of 22 categories. Irving wins 7 and Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($76,686 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Sunnyvale, CA are about 1,446 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.