Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Arvada leads 17 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Long Beach
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
58% less violent crime than Long Beach
Households earn $27,019 more per year on average
Homes cost $157k less ($553,000 vs $709,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Cons
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 88°F
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $27,019/yr
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Arvada
Median Income
$27,019
$106,014 vs $78,995/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
58% lower
285.6 vs 676.4 per 100k
Arvada
Median Home Value
$157k less
$553,000 vs $709,700
Arvada
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Arvada
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,698⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $78,995 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Arvada is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 17 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 17 and Long Beach wins 6. 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 Arvada to Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $709,700 median home), income ($106,014 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Long Beach, CA are about 832 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.