Foster City, 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.
Foster City
63.9
#1730 nationally
Irvine
67.2
#1452 nationally
Foster City leads in median household income ($191,267 vs $116,519). Irvine leads in cost of living index (178 vs 276). Irvine leads in average commute (25.8 min vs 32.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Foster City, CA | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63.9 (#1730) | 67.2 (#1452) |
| Population | 32,180 | 307,670 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,863,228 | $1,517,431 |
| Median Household Income | $191,267 | $116,519 |
| Average Commute | 32.4 min | 25.8 min |
| Walk Score | 50 | 44 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | Very Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 9.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 276 | 178 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+50.3 | D+2.6 |
D
63.9 Score
Foster City, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,863,228
Population
32,180
Crime
Low
Walk Score
50
Pacific
View Foster City, 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 →
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