Irvine, CA vs Long Beach, 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
Long Beach
62.3
#1863 nationally
Irvine leads in school rating (9.5 vs 5.2). Irvine leads in median household income ($116,519 vs $69,471). Long Beach leads in walk score (67 vs 44).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.2 (#1452) | 62.3 (#1863) |
| Population | 307,670 | 466,742 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,517,431 | $860,012 |
| Median Household Income | $116,519 | $69,471 |
| Average Commute | 25.8 min | 28.4 min |
| Walk Score | 44 | 67 |
| Crime Level | Very Low | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | 9.5 | 5.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 178 | 142 |
| 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-
62.3 Score
Long Beach, CA
Aquatic playground of Southern California
Median Home
$860,012
Population
466,742
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Pacific
View Long Beach, CA →