Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Spokane leads 13 of 23 categories
Long Beach
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Spokane
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
227,922
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,679 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Spokane, WA
Pros
Homes cost $423k less ($286,900 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $638/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,698)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Long Beach by $15,679/yr
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Income
$15,679
$78,995 vs $63,316/yr
Spokane
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Spokane
Median Home Value
$423k less
$286,900 vs $709,700
Spokane
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 227,922 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 13 of 23 categories. Long Beach wins 10 and Spokane wins 13. 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $286,900 median home), income ($78,995 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Spokane, WA are about 960 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.