Chapel Hill, NC vs Irvine, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Chapel Hill
68.6
#1303 nationally
Irvine
67.2
#1452 nationally
Irvine leads in median household income ($116,519 vs $85,940). Chapel Hill leads in cost of living index (133 vs 178). Chapel Hill leads in average commute (19.6 min vs 25.8 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Chapel Hill, NC | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.6 (#1303) | 67.2 (#1452) |
| Population | 62,043 | 307,670 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $636,021 | $1,517,431 |
| Median Household Income | $85,940 | $116,519 |
| Average Commute | 19.6 min | 25.8 min |
| Walk Score | 34 | 44 |
| Crime Level | 4.7 | Very Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 9.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 133 | 178 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.1 | D+2.6 |
D+
68.6 Score
Chapel Hill, NC
North Carolina community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$636,021
Population
62,043
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
34
Southeast
View Chapel Hill, NC →
D+
67.2 Score
Irvine, CA
Master-planned perfection in Southern California
Median Home
$1,517,431
Population
307,670
Crime
Very Low
Schools
A+
Pacific
View Irvine, CA →
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