Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 12 of 22 categories
Hemet
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
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.
Hemet, CA
Pros
Homes cost $749k less ($277,200 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1392/mo less ($1,357 vs $2,749)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Smaller class sizes — 21.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $73,047/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.5%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $73,047 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Hemet
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Hemet
Key Differences at a Glance
Hemet
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hemet
Median Home Value
$749k less
$277,200 vs $1,025,700
Hemet
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$73,047
$122,948 vs $49,901/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
80% lower
84.0 vs 424.8 per 100k
Irvine
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, 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 | $277,200 ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 14.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hemet is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Irvine leads 12 of 22 categories. Hemet wins 10 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 Hemet to Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($49,901 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Irvine, CA are about 45 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.