Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irvine, CA
VS
North Las Vegas, NV
🏆 Irvine leads 13 of 22 categories
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
North Las Vegas
Nevada
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,774
Violent Crime Index
102⚠ High
Population
264,022
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,174 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than North Las Vegas
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 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 106°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 14% higher than North Las Vegas
North Las Vegas, NV
Pros
Homes cost $686k less ($340,200 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1270/mo less ($1,479 vs $2,749)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $51,174/yr
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.5%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Irvine
Median Income
$51,174
$122,948 vs $71,774/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
78% lower
84.0 vs 388.9 per 100k
Irvine
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
North Las Vegas
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
North Las Vegas
Median Home Value
$686k less
$340,200 vs $1,025,700
North Las Vegas
Summer Heat
20.6°F warmer
July avg high 105.7°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irvine, CA | North Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,025,700⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,749⚠ High | $1,479⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,948 ✓ Higher | $71,774 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.1% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 40 ✓ Safer | 99 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 17.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 81.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Irvine Unified | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer | 60.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 105.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" | 4.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 304,527 ✓ Larger | 264,022 |
| Median Age | 33.8 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 61.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 26.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 11.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine's cost of living index is 115.5 vs North Las Vegas's 101.9 (US average = 100).
North Las Vegas is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Irvine leads 13 of 22 categories. Irvine wins 13 and North Las Vegas wins 9. 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 Irvine to North Las Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,025,700 vs $340,200 median home), income ($122,948 vs $71,774), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irvine, CA and North Las Vegas, NV are about 235 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.