Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Tallahassee, FL
🏆 Tallahassee leads 11 of 20 categories
Irving
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Tallahassee
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,899
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,259
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irving, TX
Pros
Households earn $23,787 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.1%)
Smaller class sizes — 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Tallahassee
Tallahassee, FL
Pros
Rent averages $258/mo less ($1,165 vs $1,423)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 49.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 57°F
Cons
Median income trails Irving by $23,787/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Income
$23,787
$76,686 vs $52,899/yr
Irving
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.5% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 92.1°F
Tallahassee
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Tallahassee, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 95.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 | $256,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $1,165 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $52,899 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 11.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 49.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | LEON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 63.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 57.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 198,259 |
| Median Age | 32.4 ✓ Older | 27.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 11.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tallahassee's 95.3 (US average = 100).
Tallahassee is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Tallahassee leads 11 of 20 categories. Irving wins 9 and Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $256,400 median home), income ($76,686 vs $52,899), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Tallahassee, FL are about 766 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.