Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Grand Rapids, MI
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Grand Rapids leads 14 of 23 categories
Grand Rapids
Michigan
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,634
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096
Long Beach
California
9
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.
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Homes cost $506k less ($203,900 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $560/mo less ($1,138 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%)
More college-educated — 39.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Long Beach by $17,361/yr
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 75" of snow per year
Long Beach, CA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Households earn $17,361 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 31°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 Grand Rapids
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Rapids
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Grand Rapids
Median Home Value
$506k less
$203,900 vs $709,700
Grand Rapids
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Long Beach
Median Income
$17,361
$78,995 vs $61,634/yr
Long Beach
Violent Crime
26% lower
676.4 vs 910.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Grand Rapids, MI | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $203,900 ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,138 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,634 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 240⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.3% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Grand Rapids Public Schools | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.6" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 74.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,096 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Rapids's cost of living index is 95.2 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Grand Rapids is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Grand Rapids leads 14 of 23 categories. Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids to Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($203,900 vs $709,700 median home), income ($61,634 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Grand Rapids, MI and Long Beach, CA are about 1,858 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.