Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond 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
Richmond
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,389 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°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 18% higher than Richmond
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $401k less ($308,300 vs $709,700)
50% less violent crime than Long Beach
Rent averages $471/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,698)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $19,389/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Income
$19,389
$78,995 vs $59,606/yr
Richmond
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Violent Crime
50% lower
336.9 vs 676.4 per 100k
Richmond
Median Home Value
$401k less
$308,300 vs $709,700
Richmond
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Richmond
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.5°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 227,171 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 43.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 16 of 23 categories. Long Beach wins 7 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $308,300 median home), income ($78,995 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Richmond, VA are about 2,281 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.