Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Green Bay, WI
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 12 of 23 categories
Green Bay
Wisconsin
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,174
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
106,846
Irvine
California
12
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.
Green Bay, WI
Pros
Homes cost $853k less ($172,700 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1885/mo less ($864 vs $2,749)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $63,774/yr
Violent crime (495.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $63,774 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Green Bay
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 25°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Green Bay
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Green Bay
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Green Bay
Median Home Value
$853k less
$172,700 vs $1,025,700
Green Bay
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.5% unemployment
Irvine
Median Income
$63,774
$122,948 vs $59,174/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
83% lower
84.0 vs 495.1 per 100k
Irvine
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 85.1°F vs 79.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Green Bay, WI | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $864 ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,174 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 62 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.1% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Green Bay Area Public School District | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 24.5°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 79.8°F | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.2" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,846 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.2% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Green Bay's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Green Bay is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 12 of 23 categories. Green Bay wins 11 and Irvine wins 12. 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 Green Bay to Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($59,174 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Green Bay, WI and Irvine, CA are about 1,751 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.