Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Philadelphia 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 ✓ Safer
Population
462,293
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,458 more per year on average
26% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 42°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 89°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $494k less ($215,500 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $448/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,698)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $21,458/yr
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Income
$21,458
$78,995 vs $57,537/yr
Long Beach
Violent Crime
26% lower
676.4 vs 908.7 per 100k
Long Beach
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$494k less
$215,500 vs $709,700
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 86.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Philadelphia leads 12 of 23 categories. Long Beach wins 11 and Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $215,500 median home), income ($78,995 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Philadelphia, PA are about 2,393 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.