City comparison
Yes. Irvine's crime index is 51 versus 221 in Toledo, and its violent crime index is 24 versus 279, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $2,997 in Irvine.
The income gap between Irvine and Toledo is significant: $136,719 median household versus $62,224. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,997 in Irvine and $934 in Toledo.
Irvine is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Toledo makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Irvine is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Irvine and Toledo are 1,940 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,997 a month in Irvine to $934 a month in Toledo, down $2,063 a month (69%).
Median household income goes from $136,719 in Irvine to $62,224 in Toledo, down $74,495 (54%).
The crime index goes from 51 in Irvine to 221 in Toledo, up 170 points (333%).
The move
Toledo and Irvine are 1,940 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $2,997 a month in Irvine, up $2,063 a month (221%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $136,719 in Irvine, up $74,495 (120%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 51 in Irvine, down 170 points (77%).
Irvine, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Irvine and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
69% cheaper
Toledo rent is 69% cheaper than Irvine
Irvine
$2,997/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $2,997 in Irvine, so Toledo is 69% cheaper. That's roughly $2,063/month back in your pocket ($24,756/year). Over five years that's $123,780 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, Toledo 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
120% higher
Irvine's median income is 120% higher than Toledo
Irvine
Winner$136,719
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $136,719 in Irvine versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 120% higher in Irvine (about $74,495 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. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
77% lower crime
Irvine's crime index is 77% lower than Toledo
Irvine
Winner51 (100 = avg)
Toledo
221 (100 = avg)
Irvine's crime index is 51 versus 221 in Toledo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 77% 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. Toledo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Irvine weather is 64% more comfortable than Toledo
Irvine
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Irvine averages about 76°F (83°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Irvine sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Irvine scores 64% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Toledo if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 120% higher ($136,719), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Irvine is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 77% lower than Toledo (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Toledo
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 69% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Toledo at $934/month versus $2,997 in Irvine ($2,063 apart). Irvine median income is $136,719 against $62,224 in Toledo, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Toledo rent at $934/month is still below Irvine's $2,997, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $136,719 in Irvine versus $62,224 in Toledo.
Toledo clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Irvine deserves a serious look only when your $136,719 income offer in Irvine outweighs saving $2,063/month in Toledo.
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