Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Irvine to Los Angeles
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Irvine has a higher median household income ($136,719) and median home value ($1,191,500) than Los Angeles ($81,939 and $921,200), but also higher median gross rent ($2,997 vs $1,933). Irvine’s shorter commute (27 min vs 33 min) and lack of a modeled state income tax in its profile contrast with Los Angeles’s inclusion of a 9.30% state individual income-tax reference in the calculator. These factors reflect trade-offs in affordability, transportation burden, and fiscal modeling assumptions.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Los Angeles → IrvineMoving from Irvine to Los Angeles
Median Rent Impact
-$1,064/mo
Moving to Los Angeles saves ~$12,768/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+9.3%
~$9,300 more state tax on a $100k salary in California.
Daily Commute Difference
+6 min / day
Difference of ~50 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTIRV → LAX
60/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$14,736after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's
Watch closelyA $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal California tax reference
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Los Angeles is about $12,768 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Irvine household income$136,719
Los Angeles household income$81,939
Irvine gross rent$2,997
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Irvine | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 311,690 | 3,857,263 |
| Median household income | $136,719 | $81,939 |
| Median gross rent | $2,997 | $1,933 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $1,191,500 | $921,200 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 9.3% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 27 minutes in Irvine and 33 minutes in Los Angeles. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Higher income and home value in Irvine
- Lower rent and home value in Los Angeles
- Shorter commute in Irvine
- State tax modeled only in Los Angeles calculator
What each city wins
Irvine
Median rent is nearly triple the national average.. Watch high income offsets high housing costs, but discretionary savings may be limited..
Los Angeles
A large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's. Watch a $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal california tax reference.
Frequently asked questions
How does Irvine’s rent compare to Los Angeles despite higher income?
Irvine’s median gross rent is $2,997, significantly higher than Los Angeles’s $1,933, even though Irvine’s median household income is $136,719 versus Los Angeles’s $81,939, indicating a higher housing cost burden relative to income in Irvine.
Why does Los Angeles include a state income tax in its calculator but Irvine does not?
Los Angeles uses a simplified state individual income-tax reference of 9.30% in its calculator, while Irvine’s profile deliberately excludes state tax due to lack of an approved official reference; this is a modeling assumption, not a reflection of actual liability or policy difference.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.