City comparison
Irving, TX versus Garland, 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 $1,931 a month in Irving and $1,931 in Garland, and median household income lands at $76,686 versus $71,044. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.
Irving takes job market, while Garland takes weather. The widest gap is median income, where Irving leads by 8% — 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 Irving can feel further apart than Irving and Garland do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Irving and Garland reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.
Irving, TX
Garland, TX
Rent
Neck and neck
Irving and Garland are about even on rent.
Irving
$1,931/mo
Garland
$1,931/mo
Typical rent in Irving is $1,931 a month versus $1,931 in Garland — close enough that housing cost should not decide the move by itself. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets, then pick the city that wins the categories you actually live in: safety, schools, pay, or weather.
Median income
8% higher
Irving's median income is 8% higher than Garland
Irving
Winner$76,686
Garland
$71,044
Median household income is $76,686 in Irving versus $71,044 in Garland, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Irving — about $5,642 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
Neck and neck
Irving and Garland are about even on crime index.
Irving
109 (100 = avg)
Garland
109 (100 = avg)
Irving and Garland post similar crime indexes (109 vs 109, where 100 is the national average). A small gap at the city level can still hide a huge neighborhood spread. Walk the specific block, check lighting and late-night activity, and use each city's full report for violent vs. property crime instead of stopping at the headline index.
School scores
Neck and neck
Irving and Garland are about even on school scores.
Irving
A- · 84/100
Garland
A- · 84/100
School composites are effectively even (A- in Irving, A- in Garland). 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
5% more comfortable
Garland weather is 5% more comfortable than Irving
Irving
93°F typical
Garland
Winner92°F typical
Garland scores 5% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 93°F in Irving and 92°F in Garland. Irving reads as hot, long summers; Garland 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, Garland is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
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 8% higher here ($76,686). Start with Irving if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Garland if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (92°F) beat Irving on this page's weather index by 5%. Irving may pay more or cost less, but Garland is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
If the job market is your priority, Irving is the clear choice.
If weather matters more to you, Garland pulls ahead.
For most movers comparing these two cities, Irving offers the better overall package.
Common questions
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