Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Huntington Beach leads 12 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Huntington Beach
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $731k less ($246,000 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $1304/mo less ($1,014 vs $2,318)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $53,244/yr
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $53,244 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Albuquerque
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$731k less
$246,000 vs $976,800
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
16.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$53,244
$114,747 vs $61,503/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
82% lower
207.3 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Huntington Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 11.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 197,481 |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntington Beach leads 12 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 11 and Huntington Beach wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $976,800 median home), income ($61,503 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Huntington Beach, CA are about 654 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.