Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irvine, CA
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Irvine leads 12 of 23 categories
Irvine
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527
Seattle
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$116,068
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irvine, CA
Pros
89% less violent crime than Seattle
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,880 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
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Rent averages $804/mo less ($1,945 vs $2,749)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Homes cost $146k less ($879,900 vs $1,025,700)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Cons
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5007.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Irvine by $6,880/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Irvine
Median Income
$6,880
$122,948 vs $116,068/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
89% lower
84.0 vs 775.1 per 100k
Irvine
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 85.1°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Seattle
Median Home Value
$146k less
$879,900 vs $1,025,700
Seattle
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Seattle, 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 | $879,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,749⚠ High | $1,945⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,948 ✓ Higher | $116,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.1% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 40 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 66.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 95.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Irvine Unified | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 304,527 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Seattle is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 12 of 23 categories. Irvine wins 12 and Seattle wins 11. 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,025,700 vs $879,900 median home), income ($122,948 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irvine, CA and Seattle, WA are about 992 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.