Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Long Beach leads 13 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,057
Long Beach
California
13
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.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $511k less ($198,900 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $544/mo less ($1,154 vs $1,698)
24% less violent crime than Long Beach
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $37,154/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 6.6%)
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,154 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (6.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 19% higher than Hartford
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Violent Crime
24% lower
515.8 vs 676.4 per 100k
Hartford
Median Home Value
$511k less
$198,900 vs $709,700
Hartford
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 84.6°F vs 81.4°F
Long Beach
Median Income
$37,154
$78,995 vs $41,841/yr
Long Beach
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
6.6% vs 10.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 40.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Long Beach leads 13 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 10 and Long Beach wins 13. 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 Hartford to Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $709,700 median home), income ($41,841 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Long Beach, CA are about 2,514 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.