Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irvine, CA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 12 of 22 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 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irvine, CA
Pros
72% less violent crime than Tracy
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $11,231 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°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 8% higher than Tracy
Tracy, CA
Pros
Homes cost $408k less ($617,300 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $587/mo less ($2,162 vs $2,749)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Smaller class sizes — 22.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $11,231/yr
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Irvine
Median Income
$11,231
$122,948 vs $111,717/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
72% lower
84.0 vs 301.4 per 100k
Tracy
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Home Value
$408k less
$617,300 vs $1,025,700
Tracy
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,025,700⚠ High | $617,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,749⚠ High | $2,162⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,948 ✓ Higher | $111,717 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.1% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 40 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Irvine Unified | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 304,527 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Irvine leads 12 of 22 categories. Irvine wins 12 and Tracy wins 10. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,025,700 vs $617,300 median home), income ($122,948 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irvine, CA and Tracy, CA are about 348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.