Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 New Haven leads 12 of 23 categories
Long Beach
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
New Haven
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,736
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,690 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than New Haven
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $473k less ($236,500 vs $709,700)
21% less violent crime than Long Beach
Rent averages $296/mo less ($1,402 vs $1,698)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $24,690/yr
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Income
$24,690
$78,995 vs $54,305/yr
Long Beach
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.8% unemployment
New Haven
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
New Haven
Violent Crime
21% lower
534.8 vs 676.4 per 100k
New Haven
Median Home Value
$473k less
$236,500 vs $709,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $236,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $1,402⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 38.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 85.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
New Haven is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Haven leads 12 of 23 categories. Long Beach wins 11 and New Haven wins 12. 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 New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $236,500 median home), income ($78,995 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and New Haven, CT are about 2,503 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.