Herndon, VA 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.
Herndon
68.4
#1320 nationally
Irvine
67.2
#1452 nationally
Herndon leads in cost of living index (145 vs 178). Herndon leads in walk score (51 vs 44). Herndon leads in median household income ($133,403 vs $116,519).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Herndon, VA | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.4 (#1320) | 67.2 (#1452) |
| Population | 24,935 | 307,670 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $734,699 | $1,517,431 |
| Median Household Income | $133,403 | $116,519 |
| Average Commute | 26 min | 25.8 min |
| Walk Score | 51 | 44 |
| Crime Level | 6.6 | Very Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 9.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 145 | 178 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+35.0 | D+2.6 |
D+
68.4 Score
Herndon, VA
Small Virginia city with local appeal
Median Home
$734,699
Population
24,935
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
51
Northeast
View Herndon, VA →
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 →