Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Durham leads 15 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
284,094
Long Beach
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $393k less ($316,600 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $402/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,698)
8% less violent crime than Long Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.3%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Long Beach by $4,285/yr
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Households earn $4,285 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
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Durham
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Violent Crime
8% lower
619.2 vs 676.4 per 100k
Durham
Median Home Value
$393k less
$316,600 vs $709,700
Durham
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Durham
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.0°F vs 81.4°F
Long Beach
Median Income
$4,285
$78,995 vs $74,710/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 166⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Durham is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 15 of 23 categories. Durham wins 15 and Long Beach wins 8. 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 Durham to Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $709,700 median home), income ($74,710 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Long Beach, CA are about 2,216 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.