Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irvine, CA
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Irvine
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Sunnyvale
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irvine, CA
Pros
Homes cost $655k less ($1,025,700 vs $1,680,700)
66% less violent crime than Sunnyvale
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $241/mo less ($2,749 vs $2,990)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $51,558/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.1%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Sunnyvale
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,558 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.5:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Irvine
Violent Crime
66% lower
84.0 vs 244.5 per 100k
Irvine
Median Home Value
$655k less
$1,025,700 vs $1,680,700
Irvine
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 85.1°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$51,558
$174,506 vs $122,948/yr
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,025,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,749⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,948 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.1% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 40 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 21.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 68.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Irvine Unified | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 304,527 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Sunnyvale is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Irvine wins 11 and Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,025,700 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($122,948 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irvine, CA and Sunnyvale, CA are about 350 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.