Is Fresno cheaper than Irving?

Yes. Typical rent in Fresno is $1,664 a month versus $1,931 in Irving — 14% cheaper. Median household income is $63,001 in Fresno compared with $76,686 in Irving, so Irving has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Fresno or Irving?

Irving is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 122 in Fresno — 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, Fresno or Irving?

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

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City comparison

Fresno, CA vs Irving, TX

Fresno, CA 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 $1,664 a month in Fresno and $1,931 in Irving, and median household income lands at $63,001 versus $76,686. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Fresno takes affordability and weather, while Irving takes job market and safety. The widest gap is median income, where Irving leads by 22% — 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 Fresno can feel further apart than Fresno and Irving do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Fresno and Irving reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Fresno report Full Irving report

Fresno, CA

Rent: $1,664/mo
Median income: $63,001
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 91°F

Irving, TX

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

Rent

14% cheaper

Fresno rent is 14% cheaper than Irving

Fresno

Winner

$1,664/mo

Irving

$1,931/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,664 a month in Fresno versus $1,931 in Irving, so Fresno is 14% 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 $3,204 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Fresno still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Irving.

Median income

22% higher

Irving's median income is 22% higher than Fresno

Fresno

$63,001

Irving

Winner

$76,686

What this means for your life

Median household income is $76,686 in Irving versus $63,001 in Fresno, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Irving — about $13,685 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Irving is the stronger labor market on paper. Fresno can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

11% lower crime

Irving's crime index is 11% lower than Fresno

Fresno

122 (100 = avg)

Irving

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Irving's crime index is 109 versus 122 in Fresno (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Irving. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Irving, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Fresno. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Fresno and Irving are about even on school scores.

Fresno

A- · 84/100

Irving

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Fresno, 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

12% more comfortable

Fresno weather is 12% more comfortable than Irving

Fresno

Winner

91°F typical

Irving

93°F typical

What this means for your life

Fresno scores 12% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 91°F in Fresno and 93°F in Irving. Fresno reads as hot, long summers; Irving reads as hot, long summers. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Irving's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Fresno is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Fresno

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

Fresno is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,664 a month. Choose Fresno if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Fresno if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (91°F) beat Irving on this page's weather index by 12%. Irving may pay more or cost less, but Fresno is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Fresno 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 22% higher here ($76,686). Start with Irving if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Irving 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 Fresno (109 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 Irving report →

Bottom line

Fresno vs Irving, called

If the job market is your priority, Irving is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Fresno pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Fresno vs Irving FAQ

Is Fresno cheaper than Irving?: Yes. Typical rent in Fresno is $1,664 a month versus $1,931 in Irving — 14% cheaper. Median household income is $63,001 in Fresno compared with $76,686 in Irving, so Irving has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Fresno or Irving?: Irving is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 122 in Fresno — 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, Fresno or Irving?: School composites are close: A- in Fresno and A- in Irving. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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