Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach 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
West Palm Beach
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,951 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
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
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $385k less ($324,800 vs $709,700)
15% less violent crime than Long Beach
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 67°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Long Beach by $14,951/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Income
$14,951
$78,995 vs $64,044/yr
West Palm Beach
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
15% lower
575.8 vs 676.4 per 100k
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$385k less
$324,800 vs $709,700
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
West Palm Beach is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 17 of 22 categories. Long Beach wins 5 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $324,800 median home), income ($78,995 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 2,308 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.