var div = document.createElement('div');
div.innerHTML = "<div>< x</div>";
var node = div.firstElementChild;
var childNodes = node.childNodes;
console.log(childNodes[0].data);

var div = document.createElement('div');
div.innerHTML = "<div>&lt; x</div>";
var node = div.firstElementChild;
var childNodes = node.childNodes;
console.log(childNodes[0].data);