Is Stockton cheaper than Irving?

Yes. Typical rent in Stockton is $1,742 a month versus $1,931 in Irving — 10% cheaper. Median household income is $71,612 in Stockton compared with $76,686 in Irving, so Irving has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Stockton or Irving?

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

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

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City comparison

Stockton, CA vs Irving, TX

Stockton, 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 $1,742 a month in Stockton and $1,931 in Irving, and median household income lands at $71,612 versus $76,686. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Stockton takes affordability and weather, while Irving takes job market and safety. The widest gap is typical weather, where Stockton leads by 51% — 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 Stockton can feel further apart than Stockton and Irving do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Stockton and Irving reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Stockton report Full Irving report

Stockton, CA

Rent: $1,742/mo
Median income: $71,612
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 84°F

Irving, TX

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

Rent

10% cheaper

Stockton rent is 10% cheaper than Irving

Stockton

Winner

$1,742/mo

Irving

$1,931/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,742 a month in Stockton versus $1,931 in Irving, so Stockton is 10% 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 $2,268 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Stockton still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Irving.

Median income

7% higher

Irving's median income is 7% higher than Stockton

Stockton

$71,612

Irving

Winner

$76,686

What this means for your life

Median household income is $76,686 in Irving versus $71,612 in Stockton, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Irving — about $5,074 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

Irving's crime index is 11% lower than Stockton

Stockton

122 (100 = avg)

Irving

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Irving's crime index is 109 versus 122 in Stockton (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 Stockton. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Stockton and Irving are about even on school scores.

Stockton

A- · 84/100

Irving

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Stockton, 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

51% more comfortable

Stockton weather is 51% more comfortable than Irving

Stockton

Winner

84°F typical

Irving

93°F typical

What this means for your life

Stockton scores 51% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 84°F in Stockton and 93°F in Irving. Stockton reads as hot, long summers; 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. Stockton 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 Stockton

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

Stockton is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,742 a month. Choose Stockton if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Stockton if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (84°F) beat Irving on this page's weather index by 51%. Irving may pay more or cost less, but Stockton is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Stockton 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 7% 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 Stockton (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

Stockton vs Irving, called

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

If safety matters more to you, Irving pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Stockton vs Irving FAQ

Is Stockton cheaper than Irving?: Yes. Typical rent in Stockton is $1,742 a month versus $1,931 in Irving — 10% cheaper. Median household income is $71,612 in Stockton compared with $76,686 in Irving, so Irving has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Stockton or Irving?: Irving is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 122 in Stockton — 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, Stockton or Irving?: School composites are close: A- in Stockton and A- in Irving. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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