Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntington Beach, CA
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 13 of 21 categories
Huntington Beach
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747
Violent Crime Index
55
Population
197,481
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.
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $431/mo less ($2,318 vs $2,749)
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 85°F
Smaller class sizes — 24.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Homes cost $49k less ($976,800 vs $1,025,700)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Median income trails Irvine by $8,201/yr
Irvine, CA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Huntington Beach
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $8,201 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntington Beach
Median Home Value
$49k less
$976,800 vs $1,025,700
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Irvine
Median Income
$8,201
$122,948 vs $114,747/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
59% lower
84.0 vs 207.3 per 100k
Irvine
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 85.1°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntington Beach, CA | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $976,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,318⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $114,747 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 71 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 55 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntington Beach City Elementary | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 14.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 197,481 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 43.3 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.9% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.7% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntington Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Irvine leads 13 of 21 categories. Huntington Beach wins 8 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 Huntington Beach to Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($976,800 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($114,747 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntington Beach, CA and Irvine, CA are about 13 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.