Is Durham cheaper than Irving?

Yes. Typical rent in Durham is $1,711 a month versus $1,931 in Irving — 11% cheaper. Median household income is $74,710 in Durham compared with $76,686 in Irving, so Irving has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Durham or Irving?

Durham is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 97 versus 109 in Irving — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Durham or Irving?

School composites are close: A- in Durham and A- in Irving. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

New search

City comparison

Durham, NC vs Irving, TX

Durham, NC versus Irving, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,711 a month in Durham and $1,931 in Irving, and median household income lands at $74,710 versus $76,686. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Durham takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Irving takes job market. The widest gap is typical weather, where Durham leads by 81% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Durham can feel further apart than Durham and Irving do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Durham and Irving reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Durham report Full Irving report

Durham, NC

Rent: $1,711/mo
Median income: $74,710
Crime index: 97
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Irving, TX

Rent: $1,931/mo
Median income: $76,686
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 93°F

Rent

11% cheaper

Durham rent is 11% cheaper than Irving

Durham

Winner

$1,711/mo

Irving

$1,931/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Durham versus $1,931 in Irving, so Durham is 11% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,640 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Durham still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Irving.

Median income

3% higher

Irving's median income is 3% higher than Durham

Durham

$74,710

Irving

Winner

$76,686

What this means for your life

Median household income is $76,686 in Irving versus $74,710 in Durham, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Irving — about $1,976 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

11% lower crime

Durham's crime index is 11% lower than Irving

Durham

Winner

97 (100 = avg)

Irving

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Durham's crime index is 97 versus 109 in Irving (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Durham. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Durham, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Irving. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Durham and Irving are about even on school scores.

Durham

A- · 84/100

Irving

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Durham, A- in Irving). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

81% more comfortable

Durham weather is 81% more comfortable than Irving

Durham

Winner

79°F typical

Irving

93°F typical

What this means for your life

Durham scores 81% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 79°F in Durham and 93°F in Irving. Durham reads as warm weather most of the year; Irving reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Durham is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Irving can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Durham

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,711 a month. Choose Durham if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Durham if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (79°F) beat Irving on this page's weather index by 81%. Irving may pay more or cost less, but Durham is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 11% lower than Irving (97 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Durham report →

Fit check

Who should choose Irving

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Irving is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 3% higher here ($76,686). Start with Irving if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Irving report →

Bottom line

Durham vs Irving, called

If weather is your priority, Durham is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Irving pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Durham offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Durham vs Irving FAQ

Is Durham cheaper than Irving?: Yes. Typical rent in Durham is $1,711 a month versus $1,931 in Irving — 11% cheaper. Median household income is $74,710 in Durham compared with $76,686 in Irving, so Irving has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Durham or Irving?: Durham is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 97 versus 109 in Irving — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Durham or Irving?: School composites are close: A- in Durham and A- in Irving. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Durham?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps