Irvine, CA vs Santa Barbara, 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
Santa Barbara
59.8
#1944 nationally
Santa Barbara leads in average commute (17.6 min vs 25.8 min). Santa Barbara leads in walk score (61 vs 44). Irvine leads in cost of living index (178 vs 225).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Santa Barbara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.2 (#1452) | 59.8 (#1944) |
| Population | 307,670 | 86,499 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,517,431 | $1,848,325 |
| Median Household Income | $116,519 | $98,346 |
| Average Commute | 25.8 min | 17.6 min |
| Walk Score | 44 | 61 |
| Crime Level | Very Low | 17.8 |
| School Rating | 9.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 178 | 225 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | D+26.7 |
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 →
F
59.8 Score
Santa Barbara, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,848,325
Population
86,499
Crime
High
Walk Score
61
Pacific
View Santa Barbara, CA →
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