Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 15 of 21 categories
Long Beach
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Rent averages $924/mo less ($1,698 vs $2,622)
Homes cost $174k less ($709,700 vs $883,600)
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $57,575/yr
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
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,575 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Long Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Home Value
$174k less
$709,700 vs $883,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$57,575
$136,570 vs $78,995/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
85% lower
99.2 vs 676.4 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Mission Viejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 22.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 15.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 15 of 21 categories. Long Beach wins 6 and Mission Viejo 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 Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $883,600 median home), income ($78,995 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Mission Viejo, CA are about 32 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.