Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Lakewood leads 15 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Long Beach
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995
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.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Homes cost $216k less ($494,100 vs $709,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Long Beach, CA
Pros
14% less violent crime than Lakewood
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°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)
Property crime (3478.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Income
$3,791
$82,786 vs $78,995/yr
Lakewood
Median Home Value
$216k less
$494,100 vs $709,700
Lakewood
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Lakewood
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 81.4°F
Long Beach
Violent Crime
14% lower
676.4 vs 787.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, 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 | $494,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $78,995 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 166⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 15 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 15 and Long Beach wins 8. 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 Lakewood to Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $709,700 median home), income ($82,786 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Long Beach, CA are about 829 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.