Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Fresno
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $704k less ($321,800 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1522/mo less ($1,227 vs $2,749)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Smaller class sizes — 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $59,947/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.5%)
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $59,947 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Fresno
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 98°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 11% higher than Fresno
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$704k less
$321,800 vs $1,025,700
Fresno
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$59,947
$122,948 vs $63,001/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
89% lower
84.0 vs 735.5 per 100k
Irvine
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 14.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 304,527 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 33.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Fresno wins 11 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 Fresno to Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($63,001 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Irvine, CA are about 243 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.