What are the schools like in Irvine, CA?

Irvine is served primarily by Irvine Unified. The district operates 30 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, and 7 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 26.5:1.

What is the median household income in Irvine?

The median household income in Irvine, CA is $122,948 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.5%.

What is the weather like in Irvine, CA?

Irvine has an average high temperature of 67.8°F in January and 85.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 14.1 inches.

Irvine, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Irvine, CA affordable or expensive?

Irvine's cost of living index is 116, where 100 represents the national average. This means Irvine is 16% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $1,025,700 and the median rent is $2,749 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Irvine, CA?

Irvine has a violent crime rate of 84.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1389.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Irvine, CA a Good Place to Live?

Irvine is a large city of 304,527 in California, with a median household income of $122,948 and a 5.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 116 (US average = 100), which is 16% above the national average.

Strengths: Irvine stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Irvine is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Irvine city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 115.5

Irvine's overall cost of living index is 115.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Irvine costs roughly 16% more than the average American city.

Metric	Irvine, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$1,025,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,749	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	43.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$122,948	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Irvine's violent crime rate is 84.0 per 100,000 residents — 78% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

84.0 /100k

Property Crime

1389.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Irvine is served primarily by Irvine Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 26.5:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Irvine, CA	National Avg
School District	Irvine Unified	—
Elementary Schools	30	—
Middle Schools	6	—
High Schools	7	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	26.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	70.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Irvine sees average highs of 67.8°F in January and 85.1°F in July, with 14.1 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Irvine, CA
Average High — January	67.8°F
Average High — July	85.1°F
Annual Precipitation	14.1"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Irvine, CA	National Avg
Population	304,527	—
Median Age	33.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	40.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.0%	18.9%
Asian	44.3%	6.3%
Under 18	21.8%	22.2%
65 and over	10.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Tustin, CA 4 mi Laguna Woods, CA 5 mi Lake Forest, CA 6 mi North Tustin, CA 6 mi Aliso Viejo, CA 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Irvine

Irvine, CA is covered by 10 ZIP codes:

92618 92603 92602 92612 92620 92614 92606 92604 92617 92697

Irvine vs Other Cities

Irvine, CA vs Tustin, CA Irvine, CA vs Laguna Woods, CA Irvine, CA vs Lake Forest, CA Irvine, CA vs North Tustin, CA Irvine, CA vs Aliso Viejo, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Irvine, CA affordable or expensive?

Irvine's cost of living index is 116, where 100 is the national average. That puts Irvine roughly 16% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $1,025,700 and median rent is $2,749/month.

What is the crime rate in Irvine, CA?

Irvine's violent crime rate is 84.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1389.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Irvine?

Public schools in Irvine are operated by Irvine Unified. The district has 30 elementary, 6 middle, and 7 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 26.5:1. 70.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Irvine, CA a good place to live?

Irvine, CA has a population of 304,527, a median household income of $122,948, and an unemployment rate of 5.5%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Irvine?

Irvine averages 67.8°F in January and 85.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 14.1 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Irvine?

Irvine, CA is covered by 10 ZIP codes: 92618, 92603, 92602, 92612, 92620, 92614, 92606, 92604, 92617, 92697.

What is the population of Irvine?

The population of Irvine, California is 304,527 with a median age of 33.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Irvine?

Key numbers for living in Irvine: cost of living index 116 (100 = US average), median home $1,025,700, median household income $122,948, crime index 40 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Irvine side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.