Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Renton leads 13 of 22 categories
Long Beach
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Rent averages $166/mo less ($1,698 vs $1,864)
Cons
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Renton by $13,297/yr
Renton, WA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Long Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.2%)
Homes cost $133k less ($576,800 vs $709,700)
Households earn $13,297 more per year on average
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 81.4°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Renton
Median Income
$13,297
$92,292 vs $78,995/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
50% lower
339.2 vs 676.4 per 100k
Renton
Median Home Value
$133k less
$576,800 vs $709,700
Renton
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $576,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 53.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Renton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Renton leads 13 of 22 categories. Long Beach wins 9 and Renton wins 13. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $576,800 median home), income ($78,995 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Renton, WA are about 969 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.