Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irvine, CA
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Irvine leads 15 of 23 categories
Irvine
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,292
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irvine, CA
Pros
75% less violent crime than Renton
Households earn $30,656 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°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)
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.2%)
Renton, WA
Pros
Homes cost $449k less ($576,800 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $885/mo less ($1,864 vs $2,749)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $30,656/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Irvine
Median Income
$30,656
$122,948 vs $92,292/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
75% lower
84.0 vs 339.2 per 100k
Irvine
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 85.1°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Renton
Median Home Value
$449k less
$576,800 vs $1,025,700
Renton
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,025,700⚠ High | $576,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,749⚠ High | $1,864⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,948 ✓ Higher | $92,292 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.1% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 40 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 36.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 89.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Irvine Unified | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 304,527 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 53.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Renton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 15 of 23 categories. Irvine wins 15 and Renton wins 8. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,025,700 vs $576,800 median home), income ($122,948 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irvine, CA and Renton, WA are about 981 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.