Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Temecula, CA
🏆 Temecula leads 17 of 23 categories
Long Beach
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Temecula
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
110,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Rent averages $524/mo less ($1,698 vs $2,222)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Median income trails Temecula by $32,886/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)
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Temecula, CA
Pros
78% less violent crime than Long Beach
Households earn $32,886 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.5 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $105k less ($604,300 vs $709,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.8%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,222/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Temecula
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Temecula
Median Income
$32,886
$111,881 vs $78,995/yr
Temecula
Violent Crime
78% lower
151.5 vs 676.4 per 100k
Temecula
Median Home Value
$105k less
$604,300 vs $709,700
Temecula
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Temecula
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Temecula, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $604,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,222⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 | $111,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 23.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Temecula Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 15.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 110,114 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 68.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Temecula's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Temecula is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Temecula leads 17 of 23 categories. Long Beach wins 6 and Temecula 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 Temecula or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $604,300 median home), income ($78,995 vs $111,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Temecula, CA are about 63 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.