Irvine, CA vs Poway, 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.
Irvine
67.2
#1452 nationally
Poway
66.1
#1587 nationally
Irvine leads in walk score (44 vs 30). Poway leads in median household income ($135,605 vs $116,519). Poway leads in average commute (25.6 min vs 25.8 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Poway, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.2 (#1452) | 66.1 (#1587) |
| Population | 307,670 | 48,051 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,517,431 | $1,225,939 |
| Median Household Income | $116,519 | $135,605 |
| Average Commute | 25.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Walk Score | 44 | 30 |
| Crime Level | Very Low | 3.7 |
| School Rating | 9.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 178 | 179 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | D+16.8 |
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 →
D
66.1 Score
Poway, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,225,939
Population
48,051
Crime
Low
Walk Score
30
Pacific
View Poway, CA →