El Centro, CA 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.
El Centro
70
#1141 nationally
Irvine
67.2
#1452 nationally
Irvine leads in median household income ($116,519 vs $54,922). El Centro leads in cost of living index (111 vs 178). El Centro leads in average commute (21.6 min vs 25.8 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | El Centro, CA | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70 (#1141) | 67.2 (#1452) |
| Population | 43,772 | 307,670 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $396,150 | $1,517,431 |
| Median Household Income | $54,922 | $116,519 |
| Average Commute | 21.6 min | 25.8 min |
| Walk Score | 51 | 44 |
| Crime Level | 9.0 | Very Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 9.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 111 | 178 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+0.9 | D+2.6 |
C-
70 Score
El Centro, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$396,150
Population
43,772
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
51
Pacific
View El Centro, CA →
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 →