Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Tracy leads 12 of 22 categories
Long Beach
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Rent averages $464/mo less ($1,698 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $32,722/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
Tracy, CA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Long Beach
Households earn $32,722 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Homes cost $92k less ($617,300 vs $709,700)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Smaller class sizes — 22.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Tracy
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Income
$32,722
$111,717 vs $78,995/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
55% lower
301.4 vs 676.4 per 100k
Tracy
Median Home Value
$92k less
$617,300 vs $709,700
Tracy
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $617,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 12.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tracy leads 12 of 22 categories. Long Beach wins 10 and Tracy wins 12. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $617,300 median home), income ($78,995 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Tracy, CA are about 329 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.