Irvine, CA vs South San Francisco, 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 San Francisco
63.9
#1734 nationally
South San Francisco leads in walk score (63 vs 44). Irvine leads in cost of living index (178 vs 207). South San Francisco leads in median household income ($127,062 vs $116,519).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Irvine, CA | South San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.2 (#1452) | 63.9 (#1734) |
| Population | 307,670 | 63,123 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,517,431 | $1,235,804 |
| Median Household Income | $116,519 | $127,062 |
| Average Commute | 25.8 min | 27.9 min |
| Walk Score | 44 | 63 |
| Crime Level | Very Low | 8.2 |
| School Rating | 9.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 178 | 207 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | D+50.3 |
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 →
D
63.9 Score
South San Francisco, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,235,804
Population
63,123
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
63
Pacific
View South San Francisco, CA →
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