Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Buckeye leads 12 of 22 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
95,042
Irvine
California
10
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.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $684k less ($341,700 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1152/mo less ($1,597 vs $2,749)
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Smaller class sizes — 20.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $28,760/yr
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Irvine, CA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Buckeye
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $28,760 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 107°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Buckeye
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Median Home Value
$684k less
$341,700 vs $1,025,700
Buckeye
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
21.4°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$28,760
$122,948 vs $94,188/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
50% lower
84.0 vs 166.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 14.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 12 of 22 categories. Buckeye wins 12 and Irvine wins 10. 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 Buckeye to Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($94,188 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Irvine, CA are about 296 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.