Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chino, CA
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Chino leads 11 of 21 categories
Chino
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,385
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
91,008
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.
Chino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $427k less ($599,200 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $748/mo less ($2,001 vs $2,749)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Smaller class sizes — 23.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $23,563/yr
Longer commutes — 34.2 min average each way
Irvine, CA
Pros
72% less violent crime than Chino
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $23,563 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Chino
Key Differences at a Glance
Chino
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chino
Median Home Value
$427k less
$599,200 vs $1,025,700
Chino
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.7°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$23,563
$122,948 vs $99,385/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
72% lower
84.0 vs 299.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chino, CA | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $599,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,001⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,385 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chino Valley Unified | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 67.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.7°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 14.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,008 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.7% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.1% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chino is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Chino leads 11 of 21 categories. Chino wins 11 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 Chino to Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($599,200 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($99,385 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chino, CA and Irvine, CA are about 22 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.