Long Beach and Oakland, both in California, provide unique lifestyles and opportunities for people choosing to live there or for tourists visiting. Long Beach is famous for its appealing weather, variety of industries, and diverse neighborhoods, while Oakland is known for its rich culture, booming economy, and higher education institutions. Comparing both cities' attributes under various perspectives like crime/safety, weather, cost of living, education, and others sheds light on the benefits each city offers.
Distance between
Long Beach, CA and
Oakland, CA : 357.8 miles
Long Beach's population is larger by 5%. Its population has decreased by 5,460 people (1.2%) since 2000. The population of Oakland has grown by 34,339 people (8.6%) during that time.
Oakland has a higher crime rate compared to Long Beach. While both cities are working on improving safety measures, it's advisable for individuals and families to research neighborhoods in both cities for their individual safety levels. However, tourists visiting for a short time would find plenty of safe and interesting sites to visit in both cities.
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 807 registered sex offenders living in Long Beach and 916 registered sex offenders living in . The ratio of residents to sex offenders in Long Beach is 583 to 1; the ratio in Oakland is 459 to 1. The number of registered sex offenders compared to the number of residents is a smaller in Long Beach than in Oakland.
Cost of Living
Living in Oakland is generally more expensive than in Long Beach. Housing appears to be the significant expense that contributes to this difference. However, the average income in Oakland tends to be greater than that in Long Beach, partially offsetting this cost difference.
Income Tax
At the state level, California has a progressive income tax which varies based on income. Therefore, this applies the same to residents of Long Beach and Oakland.
Property Tax
Property taxes in Oakland are generally higher than in Long Beach, reflecting the higher home values in Oakland.
Sales Tax
The total sales tax in both Long Beach and Oakland stands at 9.25%, which is high compared to many other US cities, reflecting the higher cost of living in California.
Income
Type
Long Beach
Oakland
Estimated median household income
$73,905
$82,236
Estimated per capita income
$37,217
$49,966
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
142
126.7
If you make $50,000 in Oakland, you will have to make $56,038 in Long Beach to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Long Beach, a coastal city featuring long stretches of sandy beaches, affords picturesque seaside living. Oakland, on the other hand, combines urban living with access to outdoor recreation areas due to its close proximity to the hills and the bay area.
Oakland shines in the education front with numerous high-quality educational institutions like the University of California, Berkeley. In contrast, Long Beach has a robust public school system and prestigious colleges like California State University, Long Beach. Both cities provide good educational opportunities, catering to multiple needs.
Oakland has a diverse economy with sectors like healthcare, tech, and trade driving its growth. Long Beach, meanwhile, benefits from industries such as healthcare, education, and the port-related businesses. Both cities feature growing economies, with many job opportunities for residents.
Biggest Employers
In Long Beach, some of the largest employers include Long Beach Unified School District, City of Long Beach, and Boeing. For Oakland, top employers include Kaiser Permanente, Oakland Unified School District, and the city of Oakland.
There were 304 building permits issued in Long Beach in 2012 (238 more than in 2011) compared to 114 building permits issued in Oakland in 2012 (73 more than in 2011).
In Long Beach (Los Angeles County), 69.7% voted for Democrats and 27.8% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Oakland (Alameda County), 78.9% voted for Democrats and 18.2% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Long Beach
Oakland
Long Beach
Oakland
Long Beach
Oakland
2020
71.0%
79.8%
26.9%
17.6%
2.1%
2.6%
2016
72.0%
78.2%
22.5%
14.6%
5.5%
7.2%
2012
69.7%
78.9%
27.8%
18.2%
2.4%
3.0%
2008
69.2%
78.8%
28.8%
19.3%
1.9%
2.0%
2004
63.3%
75.5%
35.7%
23.4%
1.0%
1.1%
2000
63.6%
69.6%
32.4%
24.2%
4.0%
6.2%
1996
59.3%
65.8%
31.0%
23.1%
9.7%
11.2%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Long Beach
Oakland
Long Beach
Oakland
CATHOLIC CHURCH
36.1%
15.3%
4.7%
4.9%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
1.0%
1.5%
9.0%
10.9%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
0.7%
2.0%
1.0%
2.5%
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA
0.5%
0.5%
3.1%
2.5%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.5%
0.3%
2.4%
1.4%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
0.4%
0.3%
1.4%
1.7%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.2%
0.3%
1.9%
2.3%
Weather
Both Long Beach and Oakland are gifted with California's pleasant Mediterranean climate. Long Beach tends to get more sunshine and has slightly warmer temperatures compared to Oakland, which appeals to many residents and tourists who enjoy outdoor activities and beach life.
Weather and climate
Type
Long Beach
Oakland
Temperature - Average
65.3°F
59.1°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
70.4%
84.2%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
27%
29%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
79%
90.9%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
52%
61.9%
Precipitation - Yearly average
13.1 in
23.5 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
0 in
0 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
26.4%
26.9%
Sunshine amount - Average
78.4%
73%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
22%
22%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
85%
77%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
63%
55%
Wind speed - Average
6.1 mph
11.4 mph
Average climate in Long Beach, California
Average climate in Oakland, California
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Long Beach
Oakland
Long Beach
Oakland
Long Beach
Oakland
Long Beach
Oakland
Long Beach
Oakland
Long Beach
Long Beach
Oakland
Long Beach
Oakland
2018
124
105
0.37
0.46
17.2
13.0
22.1
20.9
0.008
0.012
27.5
N/A
13.5
13.7
0.7
0.4
2017
122
100
0.36
0.48
18.1
13.5
23.2
21.2
0.007
0.008
26.7
N/A
14.5
11.3
0.8
0.5
2016
115
80
0.36
0.41
18.5
12.9
21.9
20.3
0.007
0.005
24.1
N/A
11.6
7.9
0.9
0.9
2015
111
93
0.38
0.43
19.9
14.5
22.5
20.6
0.005
0.004
25.0
N/A
13.9
9.5
0.9
0.8
2014
127
90
0.50
0.42
20.3
14.7
22.0
20.6
0.007
0.005
26.7
N/A
14.3
9.1
1.3
0.5
2013
126
89
0.48
0.39
20.0
15.2
24.7
18.0
0.005
0.004
32.3
N/A
14.6
11.6
1.0
0.5
2012
132
87
0.48
0.38
19.3
13.7
24.4
18.7
0.004
0.003
30.8
N/A
14.1
8.5
0.6
0.7
2011
119
94
0.43
0.32
20.2
14.4
23.4
18.5
0.006
0.003
28.4
N/A
15.6
10.1
1.2
1.1
2010
115
90
0.38
0.21
20.8
14.4
22.7
19.4
0.011
0.013
24.1
N/A
11.9
8.4
0.7
1.0
2009
132
99
0.50
0.22
21.0
15.2
22.0
19.0
0.008
0.006
27.7
N/A
13.1
11.3
1.1
1.3
2008
124
110
0.53
0.29
20.8
15.1
23.2
20.1
0.008
0.006
27.2
N/A
21.6
12.4
1.0
1.0
2007
109
100
0.60
0.41
20.3
13.4
21.1
21.3
0.010
0.006
N/A
N/A
N/A
9.5
1.4
1.1
2006
119
106
0.76
0.47
21.4
13.8
19.9
22.6
0.005
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
9.4
1.7
1.3
2005
108
97
0.74
0.56
24.3
13.3
20.5
15.3
0.011
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
9.6
2.7
1.4
2004
125
107
0.56
0.51
28.0
14.3
22.9
15.3
0.012
0.004
N/A
N/A
N/A
11.3
2.0
1.8
2003
130
82
0.83
0.63
28.1
16.1
22.4
15.8
0.032
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.1
1.7
2002
120
81
0.90
0.69
29.6
18.8
22.2
16.7
0.011
0.008
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.8
1.6
2001
124
87
0.81
0.70
30.3
17.2
21.5
12.7
0.011
0.008
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
3.3
1.5
2000
142
78
0.71
0.84
31.5
17.1
19.6
11.8
0.018
0.012
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.0
1.8
Natural disasters
Type
Long Beach
Oakland
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
18.3%
8.8%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
6,875.1%
7,647.7%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
57%
20%
Transportation
Both cities have extensive public transportation systems. Long Beach Transit provides bus services whereas Oakland is serviced by BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and AC Transit buses. Biking is also popular in both cities.
Transport
Type
Long Beach
Oakland
Amtrak stations
1
1
Amtrak stations nearby
3
3
FAA registered aircraft
312
154
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
29
2
Means of transportation to work
Type
Long Beach
Oakland
Bicycle
0.5%
1%
Bus
3.3%
3.2%
Carpooled
9.8%
12.6%
Car alone
81.8%
72.2%
Ferryboat
0%
0.1%
Motorcycle
0.2%
0.4%
Streetcar
0.1%
2.3%
Subway
0.5%
0.5%
Taxicab
0%
0.1%
Walked
2.8%
5.5%
Average travel time to work
Type
Long Beach
Oakland
Average
30.7 min
33.6 min
Other means
28.5 min
29 min
Public transportation
46.4 min
45.3 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
Long Beach
Oakland
Average
1.1
1.2
Drove alone
89.7%
88.1%
In 2 person carpool
8.5%
9.2%
In 3 person carpool
1.4%
2%
In 4 person carpool
0.3%
0.6%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Real Estate in Oakland generally tends to be more expensive than in Long Beach, reflecting the high cost of housing in the Bay Area. Long Beach offers slightly more affordable housing options, but still maintain a pretty high cost compared to the national average.
Neighborhoods
Long Beach hosts a variety of neighborhoods, each with unique character and charm, making it a vibrant and diverse city to live in. Oakland also prides itself on its diverse neighborhoods, encompassing a range from urban downtown areas to leafy suburban streets.
Houses and residents
Type
Long Beach
Oakland
Houses
179,856
186,660
Average household size (people)
2.8
2.5
Median year apartment built
1964
1958
Median year house/condo built
1954
1943
Length of stay in the house since moving in
15.7 years
15.4 years
Houses occupied
172,599 (96%)
170,366 (91.3%)
Houses occupied by owners
69,470 (40.2%)
72,661 (42.7%)
Houses occupied by renters
103,129 (59.8%)
97,705 (57.4%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,057
$3,127
Median monthly housing costs
$1,692
$1,921
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$520,992
$923,387
Estimated median house or condo value
$693,600
$848,600
Median numbers of rooms
4.2
4.3
Median number of rooms in apartments
3.6
3.6
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
5.5
5.7
Median house price - detached houses
$900,658
Over $1,000,000
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
$823,515
$781,885
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$495,928
$716,428
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$488,399
$709,698
Median house price - mobile homes
$333,777
$365,144
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$634,684
$834,685
Median house price - All housing units
$805,766
$991,120
Median house age
62
69
Renting percentage
58.4%
58.9%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
3,565.7
3,329.9
House value disparities
21.3%
22.3%
Household income disparities
44.7%
45.9%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$116,421
$153,718
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$79,392
$81,904
Housing units without a mortgage
394 (0.8%)
1,176 (2.2%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
3,069 (6.2%)
4,996 (9.4%)
Housing units with a mortgage
49,321 (99.2%)
51,720 (97.8%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
48 (0.1%)
139 (0.3%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
3,709 (7.5%)
6,096 (11.5%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
15
13
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
3
4
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
2.6%
2.4%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
0.4%
1.6%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
Long Beach
Oakland
One, detached
40.2%
42.3%
One, attached
4.9%
4.9%
Two
5.3%
6.2%
3 or 4
8.8%
11.1%
5 to 9
10.4%
6.6%
10 to 19
10.8%
6.9%
20 to 49
8.0%
9.9%
50 or more
10.6%
11.7%
Mobile homes
0.8%
0.3%
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.
0.2%
0.1%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
18,532
20,615
State government workers
6,550
9,112
Unpaid family workers
178
529
Industries and Occupations
Cargo transport, healthcare, and manufacturing are dominant industries in Long Beach, creating diverse job opportunities. Oakland's economy is driven by sectors like technology, healthcare, and education. Both cities offer a wide range of career options.
Both cities provide high-quality healthcare. Long Beach boasts medical centers like the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. Oakland is home to medical facilities such as Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Long Beach
Oakland
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Long Beach has a well-developed infrastructure, including one of the busiest seaports in the United States. Oakland also boasts robust infrastructures, such as the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport, serving as significant transportation hubs.
Infrastructure
Type
Long Beach
Oakland
Hospitals
17
9
TV stations
5
28
Arenas or stadiums
2
2
Bank branches located here
67
76
Bank institutions located here
18
29
Main business address for public companies
11
10
Drinking water stations with no reported violations in the past
2
10
Drinking water stations with reported violations in the past
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
Long Beach
Oakland
1999
1,159
1,291
2000
710
1,721
2001
677
1,244
2002
708
1,370
2003
1,861
2,021
2004
2,162
3,261
2005
3,065
3,850
2006
3,591
4,422
2007
2,287
2,645
2008
887
1,041
2009
475
700
Culture and Food
Oakland boasts a vibrant arts scene and mouthwatering food scene, and is famed for its diverse cuisines. Long Beach also offers a rich cultural experience, which includes arts events, music festivals, and its own unique food culture with many seaside dining options.
Sports Teams
Sports enthusiasts in Oakland can cheer for the Oakland Athletics (MLB) and the Golden State Warriors (NBA). Long Beach doesn't have its own major league teams, but is within close proximity to Los Angeles' sports teams such as the LA Lakers (NBA) and LA Dodgers (MLB).
Long Beach, CA
Oakland, CA
Long Beach, CA and 
Oakland, CA : 357.8 miles
