Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Chicago leads 14 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Long Beach
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $405k less ($304,500 vs $709,700)
20% less violent crime than Long Beach
Rent averages $384/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,698)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.6%)
Median income trails Long Beach by $7,322/yr
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 32°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,322 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Violent Crime
20% lower
539.8 vs 676.4 per 100k
Chicago
Median Home Value
$405k less
$304,500 vs $709,700
Long Beach
Median Income
$7,322
$78,995 vs $71,673/yr
Long Beach
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 462,293 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chicago leads 14 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 14 and Long Beach wins 9. 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 Chicago to Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $709,700 median home), income ($71,673 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Long Beach, CA are about 1,744 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.