Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hesperia, CA
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Hesperia
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,878
Long Beach
California
11
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.
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $372k less ($337,600 vs $709,700)
23% less violent crime than Long Beach
Rent averages $262/mo less ($1,436 vs $1,698)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Cons
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Long Beach by $11,297/yr
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 6.6%)
Longer commutes — 42.4 min average each way
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (6.6%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $11,297 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 97°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
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)
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Hesperia
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hesperia
Violent Crime
23% lower
519.6 vs 676.4 per 100k
Hesperia
Median Home Value
$372k less
$337,600 vs $709,700
Hesperia
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 81.4°F
Long Beach
Median Income
$11,297
$78,995 vs $67,698/yr
Long Beach
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
6.6% vs 9.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hesperia, CA | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $337,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,436⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,698 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.8%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 42.4 min⚠ High | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.9% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.0% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hesperia Unified | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.1" ✓ Drier | 12.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,878 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.5% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 29.3% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hesperia's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hesperia is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Hesperia 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 Hesperia to Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,600 vs $709,700 median home), income ($67,698 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hesperia, CA and Long Beach, CA are about 65 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.