Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 13 of 22 categories
Long Beach
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $16,576 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Springfield
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $562k less ($147,700 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $785/mo less ($913 vs $1,698)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Long Beach by $16,576/yr
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Income
$16,576
$78,995 vs $62,419/yr
Long Beach
Violent Crime
25% lower
676.4 vs 901.2 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$562k less
$147,700 vs $709,700
Springfield
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Springfield leads 13 of 22 categories. Long Beach wins 9 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $147,700 median home), income ($78,995 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Springfield, IL are about 1,624 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.