Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Houston leads 11 of 21 categories
Houston
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Long Beach
California
10
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.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $475k less ($235,000 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $463/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,698)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Long Beach by $18,555/yr
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Long Beach, CA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $18,555 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°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
Houston
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$475k less
$235,000 vs $709,700
Houston
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 81.4°F
Long Beach
Median Income
$18,555
$78,995 vs $60,440/yr
Long Beach
Violent Crime
41% lower
676.4 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 166⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 462,293 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Houston is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Houston leads 11 of 21 categories. Houston wins 11 and Long Beach wins 10. 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 Houston to Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $709,700 median home), income ($60,440 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Long Beach, CA are about 1,363 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.