Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Oklahoma City, OK
🏆 Oklahoma City 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
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,744 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 49°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 Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Homes cost $513k less ($196,700 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $686/mo less ($1,012 vs $1,698)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Long Beach by $14,744/yr
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Income
$14,744
$78,995 vs $64,251/yr
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$513k less
$196,700 vs $709,700
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Oklahoma City, 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 | $196,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $1,012 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $64,251 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 8.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | OKLAHOMA CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 | 681,088 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Oklahoma City's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oklahoma City leads 15 of 23 categories. Long Beach wins 8 and Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $196,700 median home), income ($78,995 vs $64,251), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Oklahoma City, OK are about 1,178 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.