Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Rialto leads 12 of 22 categories
Long Beach
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
103,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
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)
Property crime (3478.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rialto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $291k less ($418,300 vs $709,700)
5% less violent crime than Long Beach
Rent averages $145/mo less ($1,553 vs $1,698)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Cons
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
6.6% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rialto
Median Income
$1,755
$80,750 vs $78,995/yr
Rialto
Violent Crime
5% lower
641.7 vs 676.4 per 100k
Rialto
Median Home Value
$291k less
$418,300 vs $709,700
Rialto
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $418,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $1,553⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 23.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Rialto is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rialto leads 12 of 22 categories. Long Beach wins 10 and Rialto 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $418,300 median home), income ($78,995 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Rialto, CA are about 50 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.