Two exciting cities on the West Coast of the United States are Las Vegas, Nevada, and Long Beach, California. While each provides its charm, amenities, and entertainment, they have significantly different lifestyles, economies, and environments. These differences are clear in areas like crime and safety, cost of living, education, and economy, among other things. Both cities attract residents and tourists alike but offer diverse experiences based on their unique characteristics. The following sections provide a detailed comparison of these cities in various aspects to help you make an informed decision about where to live or visit.
Distance between
Las Vegas, NV and
Long Beach, CA : 234.2 miles
Las Vegas's population is larger by 42%. Its population has grown by 168,356 people (35.2%) since 2000. The population of Long Beach has decreased by 5,460 people (1.2%) during that time.
Though neither city is constantly in the top tier for security, they have distinct crime profiles. Las Vegas, known for its nightlife and vast tourism industry, tends to have higher crime rates, particularly in areas heavily crowded with visitors. Though most tourists do not experience issues, it's worth being aware and proactive about personal safety. Long Beach, while having its crime troubles, often revolves around certain neighborhoods and is generally considered safer overall, especially in areas away from the city center.
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
Sex Offenders
According to our data, there are 4,787 registered sex offenders living in Las Vegas and 807 registered sex offenders living in . The ratio of residents to sex offenders in Las Vegas is 132 to 1; the ratio in Long Beach is 583 to 1. The number of registered sex offenders compared to the number of residents is much larger in Las Vegas than that in Long Beach.
Cost of Living
Comparing the cost of living, Long Beach, like most of California, is quite expensive. The housing costs are among the highest in the nation. While Las Vegas is not cheap, the cost of living is notably lower, especially concerning housing. However, other basic needs, like food and healthcare, tend to cost more than the national average in both cities.
Income Tax
One major financial benefit of living in Las Vegas is Nevada's lack of state income tax. This is a significant contrast to California's state income tax, which is one of the highest in the US. This can be a crucial factor for certain individuals considering relocation.
Property Tax
Both cities have substantial property taxes; however, the rates, assessments and deduction possibilities differ. Long Beach generally has higher property values, leading to larger tax bills, but California offers more protections for homeowners like the Proposition 13 tax cap. In contrast, Las Vegas has lower home costs, but its property tax lacks similar protections.
Sales Tax
Nevada's sales tax, including that of Las Vegas, is generally higher than in California. However, California, and thus Long Beach, has varying additional district taxes that can make certain purchases more expensive.
Income
Type
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Estimated median household income
$59,746
$73,905
Estimated per capita income
$33,825
$37,217
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
99.1
142
If you make $50,000 in Las Vegas, you will have to make $71,645 in Long Beach to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Long Beach sits on the Pacific with beautiful beaches and ocean views. It is relatively flat with a few hills. Las Vegas sits in a basin in the Mojave Desert surrounded by mountain ranges on all sides. It's significantly more arid and susceptible to extreme heat.
In terms of education, both cities have diverse options for primary, secondary, and higher education. Long Beach is home to California State University, Long Beach, and has a higher emphasis on education, with its school district being recognized for innovation and performance. Las Vegas, on the other hand, struggles with lower funding and educational outcomes, but it provides opportunities at institutions like the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Their economies differ considerably being driven by different industries. Las Vegas is heavily reliant on tourism, hospitality, and entertainment, while Long Beach has a diverse economy including healthcare, education, and technology sectors in addition to being home to one of the world's largest ports. The unemployment rates in both cities tend to be higher than the US average, with Las Vegas often experiencing more volatility due to its dependence on tourism.
Biggest Employers
Las Vegas's biggest employers are in the entertainments sector, with MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment topping the list. On the other hand, Long Beach's job market is dominated by larger institutions like Long Beach Unified School District, the City of Long Beach, and the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.
There were 2,700 building permits issued in Las Vegas in 2012 (1886 more than in 2011) compared to 304 building permits issued in Long Beach in 2012 (238 more than in 2011).
In Las Vegas (Clark County), 56.4% voted for Democrats and 41.8% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Long Beach (Los Angeles County), 69.7% voted for Democrats and 27.8% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Las Vegas
Long Beach
2020
53.7%
71.0%
44.3%
26.9%
2.0%
2.1%
2016
52.4%
72.0%
41.7%
22.5%
5.8%
5.5%
2012
56.4%
69.7%
41.8%
27.8%
1.8%
2.4%
2008
58.5%
69.2%
39.5%
28.8%
2.0%
1.9%
2004
51.8%
63.3%
46.9%
35.7%
1.3%
1.0%
2000
51.4%
63.6%
44.8%
32.4%
3.8%
4.0%
1996
75.5%
59.3%
18.8%
31.0%
5.7%
9.7%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Las Vegas
Long Beach
CATHOLIC CHURCH
18.1%
36.1%
4.0%
4.7%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
1.6%
1.0%
11.2%
9.0%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.4%
0.2%
1.6%
1.9%
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA
0.2%
0.5%
1.4%
3.1%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.2%
0.5%
1.6%
2.4%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
0.1%
0.4%
1.1%
1.4%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
0.1%
0.7%
0.6%
1.0%
Weather
Weather-wise, the two cities offer contrasting experiences. Las Vegas is in the desert, meaning hot, dry summers and mild, cool winters. It gets significantly less rainfall than the national average. On the other hand, Long Beach has a Mediterranean climate characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. It offers more comfortable temperatures year-round, with plenty of sunshine and significantly less extreme heat than Las Vegas.
Weather and climate
Type
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Temperature - Average
65.5°F
65.3°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
30.7%
70.4%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
42%
27%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
52%
79%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
10%
52%
Precipitation - Yearly average
5.7 in
13.1 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
1.6 in
0 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
35.1%
26.4%
Sunshine amount - Average
91.8%
78.4%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
16%
22%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
92%
85%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
76%
63%
Wind speed - Average
9.2 mph
6.1 mph
Average climate in Las Vegas, Nevada
Average climate in Long Beach, California
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Long Beach
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Las Vegas
Long Beach
2018
100
124
0.42
0.37
13.1
17.2
37.2
22.1
0.008
N/A
24.4
27.5
6.0
13.5
0.7
0.7
2017
101
122
0.29
0.36
13.0
18.1
38.5
23.2
0.007
N/A
20.3
26.7
7.3
14.5
0.8
0.8
2016
97
115
0.38
0.36
11.2
18.5
36.5
21.9
0.007
N/A
20.6
24.1
8.7
11.6
0.8
0.9
2015
92
111
0.36
0.38
12.4
19.9
35.6
22.5
0.005
N/A
18.9
25.0
8.4
13.9
1.2
0.9
2014
91
127
0.40
0.50
10.8
20.3
36.5
22.0
0.007
N/A
21.1
26.7
9.2
14.3
1.4
1.3
2013
103
126
0.45
0.48
9.6
20.0
36.9
24.7
0.005
N/A
22.1
32.3
8.6
14.6
1.5
1.0
2012
94
132
0.49
0.48
5.9
19.3
38.5
24.4
0.004
N/A
21.5
30.8
8.3
14.1
1.4
0.6
2011
85
119
0.40
0.43
5.3
20.2
37.5
23.4
0.006
N/A
18.2
28.4
7.8
15.6
1.2
1.2
2010
86
115
0.50
0.38
5.7
20.8
36.6
22.7
0.011
N/A
16.1
24.1
7.1
11.9
N/A
0.7
2009
87
132
0.56
0.50
6.0
21.0
33.3
22.0
0.008
N/A
20.9
27.7
8.3
13.1
N/A
1.1
2008
82
124
0.66
0.53
8.2
20.8
33.0
23.2
0.008
N/A
N/A
27.2
9.2
21.6
N/A
1.0
2007
97
109
0.61
0.60
11.7
20.3
32.4
21.1
0.010
N/A
N/A
N/A
8.6
N/A
0.1
1.4
2006
102
119
0.75
0.76
13.4
21.4
32.7
19.9
0.005
N/A
N/A
N/A
8.3
N/A
0.8
1.7
2005
100
108
0.76
0.74
15.1
24.3
30.2
20.5
0.011
N/A
N/A
N/A
7.8
N/A
5.3
2.7
2004
85
125
0.71
0.56
16.0
28.0
30.6
22.9
0.012
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.6
2.0
2003
99
130
0.67
0.83
15.9
28.1
29.8
22.4
0.032
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.0
1.1
2002
94
120
0.73
0.90
15.7
29.6
30.6
22.2
0.011
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.7
2.8
2001
95
124
0.76
0.81
15.0
30.3
29.4
21.5
0.011
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.1
3.3
2000
95
142
0.88
0.71
14.7
31.5
29.7
19.6
0.018
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.4
2.0
Natural disasters
Type
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
2.1%
18.3%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
6,093.4%
6,875.1%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
12%
57%
Transportation
Long Beach, being part of the Greater Los Angeles area, benefits from a well-connected public transportation system, including bus, rail, and ferry services. traffic can be intense at peak hours. Las Vegas has a decent public transit system mainly focused on the Strip and downtown areas, but many residents prefer to drive. Both cities have international airports for easier commuting.
Transport
Type
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Amtrak stations
1
1
Amtrak stations nearby
1
3
FAA registered aircraft
1
312
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
81
29
Means of transportation to work
Type
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Bicycle
0.1%
0.5%
Bus
2.2%
3.3%
Carpooled
10.3%
9.8%
Car alone
82.7%
81.8%
Motorcycle
0.4%
0.2%
Subway
0%
0.5%
Walked
1.4%
2.8%
Average travel time to work
Type
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Average
26.3 min
30.7 min
Other means
24 min
28.5 min
Public transportation
49.9 min
46.4 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Average
1.2
1.1
Drove alone
88.9%
89.7%
In 2 person carpool
8.2%
8.5%
In 3 person carpool
2.1%
1.4%
In 4 person carpool
0.2%
0.3%
In 5-6 person carpool
0.4%
0%
In 7+ person carpool
0.2%
0%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Real estate in Long Beach is much more expensive compared to Las Vegas. Both, however, offer a range from high-end luxury homes to more affordable options. Las Vegas housing market is typically more volatile, influenced heavily by the health of the broader economy.
Neighborhoods
Both cities offer a diverse array of neighborhoods catering to different lifestyle preferences. Long Beach neighborhoods range from beachfront communities to more urban districts. Similarly, Las Vegas offers a variety from high-rise condos on the Strip to suburban communities in the outskirts of the city.
Houses and residents
Type
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Houses
269,602
179,856
Average household size (people)
2.7
2.8
Median year apartment built
1991
1964
Median year house/condo built
1995
1954
Length of stay in the house since moving in
10.1 years
15.7 years
Houses occupied
250,350 (92.9%)
172,599 (96%)
Houses occupied by owners
138,677 (55.4%)
69,470 (40.2%)
Houses occupied by renters
111,673 (44.6%)
103,129 (59.8%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,176
$1,057
Median monthly housing costs
$1,255
$1,692
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$989,410
$520,992
Estimated median house or condo value
$362,400
$693,600
Median numbers of rooms
5.2
4.2
Median number of rooms in apartments
4.1
3.6
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.1
5.5
Median house price - detached houses
$439,169
$900,658
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
$161,204
$823,515
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$201,871
$495,928
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$327,174
$488,399
Median house price - mobile homes
$113,235
$333,777
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$274,961
$634,684
Median house price - All housing units
$417,434
$805,766
Median house age
27
62
Renting percentage
43.5%
58.4%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
2,379.4
3,565.7
House value disparities
27.1%
21.3%
Household income disparities
47.1%
44.7%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$90,388
$116,421
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$62,287
$79,392
Housing units without a mortgage
1,172 (1.2%)
394 (0.8%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
4,450 (4.6%)
3,069 (6.2%)
Housing units with a mortgage
95,992 (98.8%)
49,321 (99.2%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
178 (0.2%)
48 (0.1%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
5,092 (5.2%)
3,709 (7.5%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
7
15
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
2
3
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
1.3%
2.6%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
1%
0.4%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
Las Vegas
Long Beach
One, detached
61.5%
40.2%
One, attached
5.3%
4.9%
Two
1.3%
5.3%
3 or 4
7.7%
8.8%
5 to 9
8.4%
10.4%
10 to 19
4.8%
10.8%
20 to 49
2.8%
8.0%
50 or more
6.8%
10.6%
Mobile homes
1.4%
0.8%
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.
0.1%
0.2%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
18,990
18,532
State government workers
6,950
6,550
Unpaid family workers
614
178
Industries and Occupations
In Las Vegas, the dominant industries revolve around entertainment, hospitality, and tourism, with many residents working in these areas. Conversely, in Long Beach, industry diversification is significant. It spans shipping, education, healthcare, and technology sectors, providing a broader range of potential occupations.
Healthcare quality and accessibility are good in both cities, with multiple hospitals and medical centers. However, Long Beach benefits from being part of the larger Los Angeles healthcare network, offering more comprehensive services and specialized care facilities. In contrast, Las Vegas has a smaller but expanding healthcare system.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Las Vegas
Long Beach
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Infrastructure-wise, both cities have well-developed roads, public buildings, and utilities. However, Long Beach benefits from being part of the vast Los Angeles metropolitan area, offering more comprehensive public services, including libraries and community centers. Las Vegas, while having a robust infrastructure, has fewer public service offerings but is seeing ongoing development due to its growing population.
Infrastructure
Type
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Hospitals
39
17
TV stations
12
5
Arenas or stadiums
2
2
Bank branches located here
281
67
Bank institutions located here
34
18
Main business address for public companies
57
11
Drinking water stations with no reported violations in the past
32
2
Drinking water stations with reported violations in the past
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
Las Vegas
Long Beach
1999
2,657
1,159
2000
579
710
2001
371
677
2002
380
708
2003
3,590
1,861
2004
5,908
2,162
2005
7,894
3,065
2006
6,914
3,591
2007
3,733
2,287
2008
1,431
887
2009
813
475
Culture and Food
Culture and food are vibrant and diverse in both cities. Las Vegas is globally renowned for its entertainment options, from shows to casinos. Its food scene is eclectic, with world-class restaurants and a variety of global cuisines due to its vast tourism industry. Long Beach boasts a rich cultural history, diverse community events, and Californian cuisine focused on local, fresh ingredients.
Sports Teams
Las Vegas has recently become a hot spot for professional sports, with the NFL's Raiders and the NHL's Golden Knights. Long Beach, while not having its sports teams, is part of the wider Los Angeles area, home to numerous sports franchises like the Lakers, Kings, Dodgers, and Rams.
Las Vegas, NV
Long Beach, CA
Las Vegas, NV and 
Long Beach, CA : 234.2 miles
