Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Corpus Christi, TX
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Corpus Christi leads 12 of 22 categories
Corpus Christi
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,449
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
317,804
Long Beach
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Corpus Christi, TX
Pros
Homes cost $529k less ($180,900 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $520/mo less ($1,178 vs $1,698)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (863.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Long Beach by $14,546/yr
Property crime (3011.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Long Beach, CA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Corpus Christi
Households earn $14,546 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Corpus Christi
Key Differences at a Glance
Corpus Christi
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Corpus Christi
Median Home Value
$529k less
$180,900 vs $709,700
Corpus Christi
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Corpus Christi
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 81.4°F
Long Beach
Median Income
$14,546
$78,995 vs $64,449/yr
Long Beach
Violent Crime
22% lower
676.4 vs 863.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Corpus Christi, TX | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $180,900 ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,178 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,449 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.5% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 194⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.0% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CORPUS CHRISTI ISD | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.3°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.1" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 317,804 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Corpus Christi's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Corpus Christi is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Corpus Christi leads 12 of 22 categories. Corpus Christi wins 12 and Long Beach wins 10. 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 Corpus Christi to Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($180,900 vs $709,700 median home), income ($64,449 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Corpus Christi, TX and Long Beach, CA are about 1,311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.