Irvine, CA vs Sacramento, 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
Sacramento
66.2
#1576 nationally
Irvine leads in school rating (9.5 vs 5.6). Irvine leads in median household income ($116,519 vs $73,924). Sacramento leads in cost of living index (123 vs 178).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.2 (#1452) | 66.2 (#1576) |
| Population | 307,670 | 528,001 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,517,431 | $480,488 |
| Median Household Income | $116,519 | $73,924 |
| Average Commute | 25.8 min | 26.2 min |
| Walk Score | 44 | 47 |
| Crime Level | Very Low | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | 9.5 | 5.6 |
| Cost of Living Index | 178 | 123 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | D+19.7 |
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
66.2 Score
Sacramento, CA
California's capital with farm-to-fork pride
Median Home
$480,488
Population
528,001
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C+
Pacific
View Sacramento, CA →
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