Imperial, 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.
Imperial
71.3
#996 nationally
Irvine
67.2
#1452 nationally
Imperial leads in cost of living index (118 vs 178). Imperial leads in average commute (18.1 min vs 25.8 min). Irvine leads in median household income ($116,519 vs $83,029).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Imperial, CA | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71.3 (#996) | 67.2 (#1452) |
| Population | 21,591 | 307,670 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $445,376 | $1,517,431 |
| Median Household Income | $83,029 | $116,519 |
| Average Commute | 18.1 min | 25.8 min |
| Walk Score | N/A | 44 |
| Crime Level | 2.1 | Very Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 9.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 118 | 178 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+0.9 | D+2.6 |
Data coverage note: Imperial is missing data for 1 metric that Irvine has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
C-
71.3 Score
Imperial, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$445,376
Population
21,591
Crime
Low
Median Income
$83,029
Pacific
View Imperial, 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 →