Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Broken Arrow, OK
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Broken Arrow leads 12 of 23 categories
Broken Arrow
Oklahoma
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,547
Violent Crime Index
59
Population
114,237
Irvine
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
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.
Broken Arrow, OK
Pros
Homes cost $815k less ($210,800 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1566/mo less ($1,183 vs $2,749)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Violent crime is well below the national average (223.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $40,401/yr
Irvine, CA
Pros
62% less violent crime than Broken Arrow
Households earn $40,401 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Broken Arrow
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Broken Arrow
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Broken Arrow
Median Home Value
$815k less
$210,800 vs $1,025,700
Broken Arrow
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Broken Arrow
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$40,401
$122,948 vs $82,547/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
62% lower
84.0 vs 223.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Broken Arrow, OK | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $210,800 ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,183 ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,547 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROKEN ARROW | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.7" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,237 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Broken Arrow's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Broken Arrow is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Broken Arrow leads 12 of 23 categories. Broken Arrow 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 Broken Arrow to Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,800 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($82,547 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Broken Arrow, OK and Irvine, CA are about 1,255 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.