Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 17 of 22 categories
Long Beach
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
462,293
Sacramento
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
10% less violent crime than Sacramento
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°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
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Homes cost $259k less ($450,500 vs $709,700)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Rent averages $106/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,698)
Smaller class sizes — 22.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Violent Crime
10% lower
676.4 vs 754.9 per 100k
Sacramento
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$259k less
$450,500 vs $709,700
Sacramento
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 121⚠ 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 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 20.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Sacramento is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 17 of 22 categories. Long Beach wins 5 and Sacramento wins 17. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $450,500 median home), income ($78,995 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Sacramento, CA are about 378 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.