Irvine, CA vs Richmond, 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
Richmond
60.3
#1940 nationally
Irvine leads in median household income ($116,519 vs $86,618). Irvine leads in average commute (25.8 min vs 34.6 min). Richmond leads in walk score (59 vs 44).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.2 (#1452) | 60.3 (#1940) |
| Population | 307,670 | 114,106 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,517,431 | $610,065 |
| Median Household Income | $116,519 | $86,618 |
| Average Commute | 25.8 min | 34.6 min |
| Walk Score | 44 | 59 |
| Crime Level | Very Low | 25.3 |
| School Rating | 9.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 178 | 155 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | D+38.0 |
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-
60.3 Score
Richmond, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$610,065
Population
114,106
Crime
Very High
Walk Score
59
Pacific
View Richmond, CA →