Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Vancouver leads 16 of 23 categories
Long Beach
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Vancouver
Washington
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Households earn $5,369 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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3478.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Homes cost $306k less ($403,400 vs $709,700)
14% less violent crime than Long Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $173/mo less ($1,525 vs $1,698)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Long Beach by $5,369/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Income
$5,369
$78,995 vs $73,626/yr
Vancouver
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Vancouver
Violent Crime
14% lower
582.3 vs 676.4 per 100k
Vancouver
Median Home Value
$306k less
$403,400 vs $709,700
Vancouver
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $403,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $1,525⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $73,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ 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 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 190,700 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Vancouver is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 16 of 23 categories. Long Beach wins 7 and Vancouver wins 16. 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $403,400 median home), income ($78,995 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Vancouver, WA are about 852 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.