Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 17 of 22 categories
Long Beach
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 106°F
Households earn $6,973 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Tempe
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $328k less ($382,100 vs $709,700)
30% less violent crime than Long Beach
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Rent averages $226/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,698)
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Long Beach by $6,973/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Income
$6,973
$78,995 vs $72,022/yr
Tempe
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Violent Crime
30% lower
470.3 vs 676.4 per 100k
Tempe
Median Home Value
$328k less
$382,100 vs $709,700
Tempe
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
24.5°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tempe leads 17 of 22 categories. Long Beach wins 5 and Tempe 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $382,100 median home), income ($78,995 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Tempe, AZ are about 360 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.