Irvine city, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Irvine city is a major urban center located in California. The total population is 308,160. It ranks as the 14th most populous out of 1,577 cities and towns in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Irvine city is 33.9 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Irvine city is $129,647. This is 35% higher than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 65% higher. The poverty rate stands at 11.7%. This is 2% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $1,115,400. Housing costs are 60% higher than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.6x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 43.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% lower than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Irvine city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 35.4%. The Black or African American population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (11.3%) is well below the state average of 39.8%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (43.9% vs 15.0%).

Education

70.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Irvine city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 93% higher than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.6%. Notably, 31.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Irvine city, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,577 Census-designated places in California. For official data, visit data.census.gov.