City comparison
No. Irvine's crime index is 51 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 24 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Austin is cheaper. Median rent is $1,729 a month versus $2,997 in Irvine.
Safety is where Austin and Irvine split most clearly. Irvine scores 111 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $2,997 in Irvine.
This is a genuine split. Austin wins on cost of living and Irvine wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Austin at $1,729 average has pockets that run $1,529 and others at $2,129: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Austin and Irvine are 1,198 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $2,997 a month in Irvine, up $1,268 a month (73%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $136,719 in Irvine, up $43,061 (46%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 51 in Irvine, down 111 points (69%).
The move
Irvine and Austin are 1,198 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,997 a month in Irvine to $1,729 a month in Austin, down $1,268 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $136,719 in Irvine to $93,658 in Austin, down $43,061 (31%).
The crime index goes from 51 in Irvine to 162 in Austin, up 111 points (218%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irvine, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Irvine? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
42% cheaper
Austin rent is 42% cheaper than Irvine
Austin
Winner$1,729/mo
Irvine
$2,997/mo
Typical rent runs $1,729 a month in Austin versus $2,997 in Irvine, so Austin is 42% cheaper. That's roughly $1,268/month back in your pocket ($15,216/year). Over five years that's $76,080 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Irvine, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Austin is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Irvine? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
46% higher
Irvine's median income is 46% higher than Austin
Austin
$93,658
Irvine
Winner$136,719
Median household income is $136,719 in Irvine versus $93,658 in Austin, so typical pay runs 46% higher in Irvine (about $43,061 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Irvine is the stronger labor market on paper. Austin can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
69% lower crime
Irvine's crime index is 69% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Irvine
Winner51 (100 = avg)
Irvine's crime index is 51 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 69% lower in Irvine. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Irvine is the easier city. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Austin and Irvine are about even on typical weather.
Austin
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irvine
72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Irvine averages about 72°F (78°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irvine sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Austin
Austin is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 42% cheaper here at about $1,729 a month. Choose Austin if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Irvine is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 46% higher here ($136,719). Start with Irvine if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Irvine is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 69% lower than Austin (51 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Irvine: Irvine scores 80/100 versus 45/100 in Austin, with typical rent at $2,997 versus $1,729. I would vet the exact ZIP in Austin before trading 35 safety points for housing savings.
Irvine still pays more locally ($136,719 median income vs $93,658), which can offset the lease if your field pays Irvine rates.
Median income is $136,719 in Irvine versus $93,658 in Austin.
Pick Irvine when you want the stronger safety signal (80/100). Otherwise, Austin's case rests on a Austin ZIP you trust at $1,729 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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