Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Long Beach leads 14 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Long Beach
California
14
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Homes cost $231k less ($478,400 vs $709,700)
28% less violent crime than Long Beach
Households earn $7,971 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 6.6%)
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Property crime (3478.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kent
Median Income
$7,971
$86,966 vs $78,995/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
28% lower
489.7 vs 676.4 per 100k
Kent
Median Home Value
$231k less
$478,400 vs $709,700
Long Beach
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.6% unemployment
Long Beach
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 81.4°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,698⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $78,995 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 166⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Kent is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Long Beach leads 14 of 23 categories. Kent wins 9 and Long Beach wins 14. 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 Kent to Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $709,700 median home), income ($86,966 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Long Beach, CA are about 963 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.