Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 14 of 22 categories
Long Beach
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,995
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Homes cost $799k less ($709,700 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1273/mo less ($1,698 vs $2,971)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $70,157/yr
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
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $70,157 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Long Beach
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 81°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Long Beach
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Long Beach
Median Home Value
$799k less
$709,700 vs $1,508,900
Long Beach
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 81.4°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$70,157
$149,152 vs $78,995/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
64% lower
243.2 vs 676.4 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 21.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 58.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 19.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Long Beach is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 14 of 22 categories. Long Beach wins 8 and San Mateo wins 14. 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 Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($78,995 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and San Mateo, CA are about 350 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.