Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 16 of 23 categories
Long Beach
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,808 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 37°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 21% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $538k less ($171,800 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $545/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,698)
37% less violent crime than Long Beach
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $18,808/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Income
$18,808
$78,995 vs $60,187/yr
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
37% lower
427.2 vs 676.4 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$538k less
$171,800 vs $709,700
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 303,843 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 47.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 16 of 23 categories. Long Beach wins 7 and Pittsburgh wins 16. 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $171,800 median home), income ($78,995 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Pittsburgh, PA are about 2,137 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.