Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 17 of 22 categories
Long Beach
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Rent averages $366/mo less ($1,698 vs $2,064)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Homes cost $19k less ($709,700 vs $728,800)
Cons
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails San Marcos by $20,418/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3478.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Marcos, CA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Long Beach
Households earn $20,418 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Home Value
$19k less
$709,700 vs $728,800
San Marcos
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Marcos
Median Income
$20,418
$99,413 vs $78,995/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
67% lower
222.4 vs 676.4 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
San Marcos
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 23.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 13.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
San Marcos is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 17 of 22 categories. Long Beach wins 5 and San Marcos 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 San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $728,800 median home), income ($78,995 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and San Marcos, CA are about 73 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.