Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Long Beach leads 12 of 21 categories
Long Beach
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.6%)
Households earn $11,807 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
South Gate, CA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Long Beach
Homes cost $131k less ($578,900 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $298/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,698)
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Long Beach by $11,807/yr
Property crime (3598.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Income
$11,807
$78,995 vs $67,188/yr
Long Beach
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
South Gate
Violent Crime
22% lower
525.6 vs 676.4 per 100k
South Gate
Median Home Value
$131k less
$578,900 vs $709,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $578,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 82.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 14.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Long Beach leads 12 of 21 categories. Long Beach wins 12 and South Gate wins 9. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $578,900 median home), income ($78,995 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and South Gate, CA are about 11 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.