Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irvine, CA
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 15 of 22 categories
Irvine
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irvine, CA
Pros
85% less violent crime than San Leandro
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $25,807 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Rent averages $752/mo less ($1,997 vs $2,749)
Homes cost $253k less ($772,700 vs $1,025,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 85°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Irvine by $25,807/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (3922.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Irvine
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Irvine
Median Income
$25,807
$122,948 vs $97,141/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
85% lower
84.0 vs 548.7 per 100k
Irvine
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 85.1°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Home Value
$253k less
$772,700 vs $1,025,700
San Leandro
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irvine, CA | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,025,700⚠ High | $772,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,749⚠ High | $1,997⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,948 ✓ Higher | $97,141 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.1% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 40 ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 21.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 84.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Irvine Unified | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer | 57.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 18.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 304,527 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Irvine is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Irvine leads 15 of 22 categories. Irvine wins 15 and San Leandro wins 7. 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 San Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,025,700 vs $772,700 median home), income ($122,948 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irvine, CA and San Leandro, CA are about 371 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.