Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Norman 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
Norman
Oklahoma
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,146 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 50°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°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 25% higher than Norman
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $485k less ($224,900 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $694/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,698)
62% less violent crime than Long Beach
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $16,146/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Income
$16,146
$78,995 vs $62,849/yr
Norman
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Violent Crime
62% lower
260.2 vs 676.4 per 100k
Norman
Median Home Value
$485k less
$224,900 vs $709,700
Norman
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Norman
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $224,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $1,004 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $62,849 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ 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 | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 37.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 127,701 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 15 of 23 categories. Long Beach wins 8 and Norman 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $224,900 median home), income ($78,995 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Norman, OK are about 1,188 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.