Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 18 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Long Beach
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995
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.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $69,232 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Long Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Rent averages $655/mo less ($1,698 vs $2,353)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $69,232/yr
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)
Property crime (3478.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$69,232
$148,227 vs $78,995/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
80% lower
138.1 vs 676.4 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Median Home Value
$72k less
$637,400 vs $709,700
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Highlands Ranch
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,698⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $78,995 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Highlands Ranch is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 18 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 18 and Long Beach wins 5. 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 Highlands Ranch to Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $709,700 median home), income ($148,227 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Long Beach, CA are about 831 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.