Irvine, CA vs Waco, TX
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
Waco
77.1
#281 nationally
Irvine leads in median household income ($116,519 vs $47,421). Waco leads in cost of living index (93 vs 178). Waco leads in average commute (17.5 min vs 25.8 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.2 (#1452) | 77.1 (#281) |
| Population | 307,670 | 144,816 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,517,431 | $197,359 |
| Median Household Income | $116,519 | $47,421 |
| Average Commute | 25.8 min | 17.5 min |
| Walk Score | 44 | 35 |
| Crime Level | Very Low | 11.7 |
| School Rating | 9.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 178 | 93 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | R+30.9 |
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 →
C+
77.1 Score
Waco, TX
Mid-size Texas city with community character
Median Home
$197,359
Population
144,816
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
35
Southwest
View Waco, TX →