Hercules, CA 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.
Hercules
63.3
#1776 nationally
Irvine
67.2
#1452 nationally
Irvine leads in average commute (25.8 min vs 40.4 min). Irvine leads in walk score (44 vs 29). Hercules leads in median household income ($125,880 vs $116,519).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Hercules, CA | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63.3 (#1776) | 67.2 (#1452) |
| Population | 26,582 | 307,670 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $743,984 | $1,517,431 |
| Median Household Income | $125,880 | $116,519 |
| Average Commute | 40.4 min | 25.8 min |
| Walk Score | 29 | 44 |
| Crime Level | 4.6 | Very Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 9.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 171 | 178 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+38.0 | D+2.6 |
D
63.3 Score
Hercules, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$743,984
Population
26,582
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
29
Pacific
View Hercules, CA →
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 →