Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Fresno
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Long Beach
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
462,293
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $388k less ($321,800 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $471/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,698)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Smaller class sizes — 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Long Beach by $15,994/yr
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 6.6%)
Long Beach, CA
Pros
8% less violent crime than Fresno
Households earn $15,994 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 98°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 55°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$388k less
$321,800 vs $709,700
Fresno
Summer Heat
16.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 81.4°F
Long Beach
Median Income
$15,994
$78,995 vs $63,001/yr
Long Beach
Violent Crime
8% lower
676.4 vs 735.5 per 100k
Long Beach
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 12.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 462,293 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Fresno wins 11 and Long Beach wins 11. 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 Fresno to Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $709,700 median home), income ($63,001 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Long Beach, CA are about 227 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.