Living in Irvine, CA
Suburb in California
Irvine is a suburb in California, home to about 308,000 people, with 7.1 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
In short: Master-planned, very safe, with strong schools, great weather and lots of parks. Among the priciest suburbs in the US.
Is Irvine a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 17 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Big job market: about 7.1 million people live within 31 mi
- Highly educated: 71% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5 research universities are within 31 mi
- Safe: violent crime is 0.2× the US rate (FBI 2019)
👎 Cons
- Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $1.36M, and rent is $4,390 a month
- Few dog parks: 27 within 9 mi
- Higher taxes: about $3,279 state income tax per resident, 0.82% property tax
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Irvine ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Irvine: common questions
What is the cost of living in Irvine?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $1.36M, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $4,390 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 114, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Irvine?
California collects about $3,279 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.82% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Irvine safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.2× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Irvine?
Irvine is warm all year: winter days average around 69°F and summer days around 84°F.
Does Irvine get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding and earthquakes: 7 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.29 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Irvine?
The nearest major airport is SNA, about 6 mi away.
How Irvine scores
Each bar compares Irvine with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Irvine right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.