Irvine, CA vs Salem, VA
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
Salem
73.2
#778 nationally
Irvine leads in median household income ($116,519 vs $68,402). Salem leads in cost of living index (105 vs 178). Irvine leads in walk score (44 vs 27).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Salem, VA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.2 (#1452) | 73.2 (#778) |
| Population | 307,670 | 25,600 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,517,431 | $312,662 |
| Median Household Income | $116,519 | $68,402 |
| Average Commute | 25.8 min | 18.8 min |
| Walk Score | 44 | 27 |
| Crime Level | Very Low | 7.2 |
| School Rating | 9.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 178 | 105 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | R+19.3 |
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 →
C
73.2 Score
Salem, VA
Small Virginia city with local appeal
Median Home
$312,662
Population
25,600
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
27
Northeast
View Salem, VA →