Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Irving lands on the scale
Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Irving sits.
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Irving fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.
16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100
7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100
- Fun factors lift it
- –
- Drawbacks pull it down
- –
- Raw composite
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- Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
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Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).
The Fun breakdown
Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.
Irving's strongest factors are Events, Walkability and Climate. Its heaviest drawbacks are Air Quality, Disaster Risk and Weather Extremes.
On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.
What lifts the score
- Eats –
Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.
Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Drinks –
Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.
Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Coffee –
Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.
Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
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Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.
Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).
- Outdoors –
Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.
Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.
- Culture –
Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.
Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Events –
Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.
- Sports –
Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.
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Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.
Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.
Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).
- Climate –
How often the weather is good enough to get outside.
Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.
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How well a person without a car can move around the city.
Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.
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Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.
Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).
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Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.
Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.
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Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.
Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.
What weighs it down
- Crime –
Reported violent and property crime rates.
Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.
- Traffic –
Congestion and the time lost to commuting.
Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).
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Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
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Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
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Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
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Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.
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What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.
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Cities like Irving
The Irving read Free
A written read on Irving, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Irving scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.
Irving, TX: A Quiet City with a Strong Event Scene
Irving, TX earns a Fun Score of 20, placing it in the "Quiet" category, and stands out nationally for its robust Events scene. It is one of 3 cities tied for 119th place out of 134 cities nationally.
Why it scores high
Irving's strongest asset is its vibrant Events scene, which scores an impressive 89 out of 100. This places Irving tied for 11th nationally out of 134 cities, indicating a rich calendar of festivals, fairs, and ticketed events for residents and visitors alike (Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events). This high score suggests that there's almost always something happening in Irving, offering ample opportunities for entertainment and engagement.
The city also offers good Walkability, with a score of 62. This ranks Irving tied for 51st nationally out of 134 cities, meaning that many areas are conducive to getting around on foot (EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)). This can contribute to a more active lifestyle and easier access to local amenities without always needing a car.
Furthermore, Irving benefits from a favorable Climate, scoring 47. This puts it tied for 71st nationally out of 134 cities, indicating a good number of comfortable days throughout the year (NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days). This pleasant weather likely enhances the enjoyment of outdoor activities and contributes to the overall quality of life.
Where it falls short
While Irving shines in certain areas, it has some notable weaknesses. The city scores very low in its Drinks scene, with a score of just 3, placing it 130th nationally out of 134 cities. This suggests a limited selection of bars, pubs, nightclubs, and craft breweries (OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). Similarly, the Sports scene also scores a low 3, tied for 130th nationally (Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres), indicating few professional or college sports events and limited sports facilities. For those who enjoy a lively nightlife or are avid sports fans, Irving may not offer many options.
The Coffee scene is also quite limited, scoring 5 and ranking tied for 127th nationally out of 134 cities (OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). This suggests that finding a variety of cafes or high-quality coffee shops might be a challenge. Additionally, Air Quality is a concern, with a score of 8, placing it tied for 130th nationally (EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)). This low score indicates that the air quality in Irving is often poor, which could impact outdoor activities and overall health.
Who it's for
Irving is best suited for individuals or families who prioritize a steady stream of local events and appreciate the ability to walk to amenities, all within a generally comfortable climate. It's a good fit for those who prefer a quieter lifestyle over a bustling nightlife or a strong sports culture.
Cities like it
- El Paso, TX: Similar in its overall quiet atmosphere.
- Plano, TX: Shares a comparable suburban feel and focus on community events.
- Fort Worth, TX: Another Texas city with a strong events calendar and a focus on local attractions.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services
- Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate
- EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)
- EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals
- FEMA National Risk Index
- GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)
- GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
- NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data
- NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days
- NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data
- OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities
- OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog
- OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap music venues
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek headliner popularity
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games
- US Census commute-time data (ACS)
- Wikidata notable residents
This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.
Go deeper
Use the data
Irving’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.
Cite this page
Paste-ready credit line for journalists, researchers and bloggers. Carries the score, the algorithm version and the canonical URL so readers can verify it themselves.
CityFunIndex Fun Score for Irving, TX: 20/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/irving-tx
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.