Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845
Irvine
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (2.8%)
Rent averages $522/mo less ($2,227 vs $2,749)
Homes cost $192k less ($833,300 vs $1,025,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,439 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Irvine, CA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Arlington
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Arlington by $14,439/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$14,439
$137,387 vs $122,948/yr
Arlington
Median Home Value
$192k less
$833,300 vs $1,025,700
Arlington
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Violent Crime
67% lower
84.0 vs 254.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $122,948 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 70.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 43.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Irvine wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arlington to Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($137,387 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Irvine, CA are about 2,275 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.