Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 13 of 23 categories
High Point
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,582
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
114,120
Irvine
California
13
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.
High Point, NC
Pros
Homes cost $829k less ($196,500 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1719/mo less ($1,030 vs $2,749)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $64,366/yr
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.5%)
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $64,366 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than High Point
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than High Point
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Median Home Value
$829k less
$196,500 vs $1,025,700
High Point
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$64,366
$122,948 vs $58,582/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
82% lower
84.0 vs 454.8 per 100k
Irvine
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
High Point is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 13 of 23 categories. High Point wins 10 and Irvine wins 13. 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 High Point to Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($58,582 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Irvine, CA are about 2,135 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.