Irvine, CA vs South El Monte, 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
South El Monte
62.5
#1853 nationally
Irvine leads in median household income ($116,519 vs $67,724). South El Monte leads in walk score (61 vs 44). South El Monte leads in cost of living index (148 vs 178).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Irvine, CA | South El Monte, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.2 (#1452) | 62.5 (#1853) |
| Population | 307,670 | 19,032 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,517,431 | $759,990 |
| Median Household Income | $116,519 | $67,724 |
| Average Commute | 25.8 min | 27.7 min |
| Walk Score | 44 | 61 |
| Crime Level | Very Low | 12.8 |
| School Rating | 9.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 178 | 148 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | D+32.9 |
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-
62.5 Score
South El Monte, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$759,990
Population
19,032
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
61
Pacific
View South El Monte, CA →
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