Darien, IL vs Irvine, 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.
Darien
75.1
#500 nationally
Irvine
67.2
#1452 nationally
Darien leads in cost of living index (122 vs 178). Irvine leads in walk score (44 vs 35). Irvine leads in average commute (25.8 min vs 29.7 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Darien, IL | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75.1 (#500) | 67.2 (#1452) |
| Population | 21,698 | 307,670 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $463,450 | $1,517,431 |
| Median Household Income | $110,546 | $116,519 |
| Average Commute | 29.7 min | 25.8 min |
| Walk Score | 35 | 44 |
| Crime Level | 1.1 | Very Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 9.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 122 | 178 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+13.3 | D+2.6 |
C
75.1 Score
Darien, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$463,450
Population
21,698
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
35
Midwest
View Darien, IL →
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 →