Irvine, CA vs Salisbury, NC
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
Salisbury
66.6
#1526 nationally
Irvine leads in median household income ($116,519 vs $48,888). Salisbury leads in cost of living index (94 vs 178). Irvine leads in walk score (44 vs 27).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Salisbury, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.2 (#1452) | 66.6 (#1526) |
| Population | 307,670 | 36,319 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,517,431 | $284,346 |
| Median Household Income | $116,519 | $48,888 |
| Average Commute | 25.8 min | 21.8 min |
| Walk Score | 44 | 27 |
| Crime Level | Very Low | 26.3 |
| School Rating | 9.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 178 | 94 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | R+35.9 |
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
66.6 Score
Salisbury, NC
Small North Carolina city with local appeal
Median Home
$284,346
Population
36,319
Crime
Very High
Walk Score
27
Southeast
View Salisbury, NC →
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