Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irvine, CA
VS
Tacoma, 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
Tacoma
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irvine, CA
Pros
92% less violent crime than Tacoma
Households earn $43,863 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 5 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)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tacoma
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $610k less ($415,300 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1260/mo less ($1,489 vs $2,749)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $43,863/yr
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Irvine
Median Income
$43,863
$122,948 vs $79,085/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
92% lower
84.0 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Irvine
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 85.1°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$610k less
$415,300 vs $1,025,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Tacoma, 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 | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,749⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,948 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.1% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 40 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Irvine Unified | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 304,527 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Tacoma is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 15 of 23 categories. Irvine wins 15 and Tacoma 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,025,700 vs $415,300 median home), income ($122,948 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irvine, CA and Tacoma, WA are about 969 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.