Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 15 of 23 categories
Long Beach
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
McAllen
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,669 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than McAllen
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $551k less ($158,700 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $743/mo less ($955 vs $1,698)
78% less violent crime than Long Beach
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $22,669/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Income
$22,669
$78,995 vs $56,326/yr
McAllen
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
78% lower
150.0 vs 676.4 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$551k less
$158,700 vs $709,700
McAllen
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
16.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 27.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 142,722 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 15 of 23 categories. Long Beach wins 8 and McAllen wins 15. 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 Long Beach to McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $158,700 median home), income ($78,995 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and McAllen, TX are about 1,298 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.