Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Knoxville leads 12 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $526k less ($184,200 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $655/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,698)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $30,686/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,686 more per year on average
9% less violent crime than Knoxville
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 88°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
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Knoxville
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$526k less
$184,200 vs $709,700
Knoxville
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Knoxville
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 81.4°F
Long Beach
Median Income
$30,686
$78,995 vs $48,309/yr
Long Beach
Violent Crime
9% lower
676.4 vs 740.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 12 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 12 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 Knoxville to Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $709,700 median home), income ($48,309 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Long Beach, CA are about 1,936 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.