Long Beach, CA vs Southwest San Gabriel Valley, CA
Choosing between two distinct locations such as Long Beach, California, and Southwest San Gabriel Valley requires analyzing various aspects of the cities. The decision may vary significantly depending on one's lifestyle, suitability, affordability, and opportunities. Understanding key details such as safety, cost of living, work opportunities, education, and other city-specific characteristics will give a more transparent picture of life in both cities. An individual's needs and desires create a unique perspective on what one city offers over the other. Each section below elaborates on these aspects and how the two locations compare.
While neither Long Beach nor Southwest San Gabriel Valley is renowned for having the lowest crime rates in the state, when compared, Long Beach generally experiences higher levels of both violent and property crimes. In Southwest San Gabriel Valley, most crimes are property-related. However, the actual safety can vary greatly between neighborhoods within these areas. It is recommended for both residents and tourists to remain vigilant of their surroundings.
Cost of Living
Long Beach and Southwest San Gabriel Valley both have a high cost of living compared to the U.S. national average, primarily due to high housing costs. However, Southwest San Gabriel Valley is somewhat less expensive than Long Beach when comparing median home and rental prices.
Income Tax
California has one of the highest state income tax rates in the U.S. This applies to both Long Beach and Southwest San Gabriel Valley, with rates varying based on income brackets.
Property Tax
While California's property tax rate ranks below the national average, high real estate prices result in sizable property taxes. Both Long Beach and Southwest San Gabriel Valley follow this state property tax rate.
Sales Tax
Both Long Beach and Southwest San Gabriel Valley have high sales taxes. They both adhere to California's state sales tax rate of 7.25%, with additional local sales taxes increasing the total rate.
Income
Type
Long Beach
Southwest San Gabriel Valley
Estimated median household income
$73,905
$73,720
Estimated per capita income
$37,217
$29,945
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
142
161.2
If you make $50,000 in Long Beach, you will have to make $56,761 in Southwest San Gabriel Valley to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Long Beach is a coastal city with a bustling port, beautiful beaches, and bike-friendly paths. Southwest San Gabriel Valley, on the other hand, is inland with hilly landscapes and proximity to hiking trails and natural parks.
Geographical information
Type
Long Beach
Southwest San Gabriel Valley
Land area
50.4 sq. miles
35.3 sq. miles
Population density
9,041.5 people per sq. mile
9,252.7 people per sq. mile
Relative area comparison
Long Beach, CA Southwest San Gabriel Valley, CA
Education
Both areas provide decent public and private education opportunities. However, Long Beach has more diverse educational institutions, including California State University, Long Beach. Southwest San Gabriel Valley is part of the larger Los Angeles County and shares access to its vast array of educational systems.
Long Beach has a fairly diverse economy with large sectors in healthcare, education, manufacturing, and professional services, while Southwest San Gabriel Valley, being a part of Greater Los Angeles, has access to a larger and more diverse economy.
Biggest Employers
In Long Beach, some of the biggest employers include Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Molina Healthcare, and California State University, Long Beach. In Southwest San Gabriel Valley, many residents are employed in Los Angeles with some of the largest employment sectors being entertainment, aerospace, and IT.
Weather
California is generally known for its pleasantly warm weather and both Long Beach and Southwest San Gabriel Valley are no exception. However, Long Beach, being a coastal city, experiences more moderate temperatures and a cooling sea breeze. Southwest San Gabriel Valley sees slightly hotter summers and slightly cooler winters compared to Long Beach due to its inland location.
Weather and climate
Type
Long Beach
Southwest San Gabriel Valley
Temperature - Average
65.3°F
66.3°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
70.4%
61.4%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
27%
16.5%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
79%
65.8%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
52%
49.3%
Precipitation - Yearly average
13.1 in
17.6 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
0 in
0 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
26.4%
30.1%
Sunshine amount - Average
78.4%
78.4%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
22%
22%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
85%
85%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
63%
63%
Wind speed - Average
6.1 mph
2.3 mph
Average climate in Long Beach, California
Average climate in Southwest San Gabriel Valley, California
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Long Beach
Southwest San Gabriel Valley
Long Beach
Southwest San Gabriel Valley
Long Beach
Southwest San Gabriel Valley
Long Beach
Southwest San Gabriel Valley
Long Beach
Southwest San Gabriel Valley
Long Beach
Southwest San Gabriel Valley
Long Beach
Southwest San Gabriel Valley
Long Beach
Southwest San Gabriel Valley
2018
124
140
0.37
0.39
17.2
14.2
22.1
26.6
0.008
0.008
27.5
27.5
13.5
15.1
0.7
0.4
2017
122
142
0.36
0.38
18.1
15.1
23.2
27.8
0.007
0.007
26.7
30.2
14.5
15.3
0.8
0.5
2016
115
128
0.36
0.36
18.5
15.2
21.9
26.5
0.007
0.007
24.1
27.8
11.6
14.3
0.9
0.4
2015
111
137
0.38
0.36
19.9
15.3
22.5
26.7
0.005
0.006
25.0
27.6
13.9
16.4
0.9
0.3
2014
127
138
0.50
0.39
20.3
16.3
22.0
26.8
0.007
0.007
26.7
29.9
14.3
18.0
1.3
0.4
2013
126
140
0.48
0.44
20.0
17.5
24.7
25.2
0.005
0.007
32.3
28.3
14.6
17.0
1.0
0.4
2012
132
144
0.48
0.47
19.3
17.7
24.4
25.0
0.004
0.007
30.8
27.6
14.1
18.1
0.6
0.5
2011
119
142
0.43
0.50
20.2
19.3
23.4
23.6
0.006
0.008
28.4
29.8
15.6
17.6
1.2
0.4
2010
115
128
0.38
0.52
20.8
19.4
22.7
22.9
0.011
0.020
24.1
30.0
11.9
16.3
0.7
0.5
2009
132
150
0.50
0.43
21.0
21.5
22.0
23.5
0.008
0.011
27.7
40.0
13.1
18.0
1.1
0.5
2008
124
152
0.53
0.53
20.8
23.5
23.2
22.8
0.008
0.014
27.2
39.1
21.6
18.3
1.0
0.6
2007
109
128
0.60
0.58
20.3
24.2
21.1
21.8
0.010
0.017
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.4
1.1
2006
119
125
0.76
0.63
21.4
24.6
19.9
22.1
0.005
0.009
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.7
1.7
2005
108
123
0.74
0.66
24.3
25.6
20.5
20.5
0.011
0.015
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.7
2.1
2004
125
132
0.56
0.77
28.0
27.7
22.9
22.9
0.012
0.019
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.0
2.4
2003
130
143
0.83
0.98
28.1
31.8
22.4
22.0
0.032
0.027
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.1
1.8
2002
120
137
0.90
1.00
29.6
33.0
22.2
21.1
0.011
0.025
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.8
2.4
2001
124
143
0.81
1.11
30.3
34.2
21.5
18.9
0.011
0.039
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
3.3
2.4
2000
142
147
0.71
1.12
31.5
33.4
19.6
18.9
0.018
0.033
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.0
1.4
Natural disasters
Type
Long Beach
Southwest San Gabriel Valley
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
18.3%
18%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
6,875.1%
7,182.3%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
57%
57%
Transportation
Both regions benefit from extensive public transit systems. Long Beach offers the Metro Blue Line train, buses, and a bike share program. Southwest San Gabriel Valley residents often rely on buses, light rail services, and car for commuting.
Transport
Type
Long Beach
Southwest San Gabriel Valley
Amtrak stations
1
0
Amtrak stations nearby
3
3
FAA registered aircraft
312
0
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
29
0
Means of transportation to work
Type
Long Beach
Southwest San Gabriel Valley
Bicycle
0.5%
0.5%
Bus
3.3%
4.7%
Carpooled
9.8%
16.1%
Car alone
81.8%
73%
Motorcycle
0.2%
0.1%
Subway
0.5%
0%
Walked
2.8%
2.5%
Average travel time to work
Type
Long Beach
Southwest San Gabriel Valley
Average
30.7 min
29.1 min
Real Estate
Real estate prices are high in both locations due to California's overall high cost of living; however, properties in Long Beach generally come at a steeper price compared to Southwest San Gabriel Valley.
Neighborhoods
Long Beach boasts diverse neighborhoods, ranging from lively downtown areas to serene beachside locales. Southwest San Gabriel Valley, on the other hand, consists primarily of suburban residential areas with pockets of commercial zones.
Houses and residents
Type
Long Beach
Southwest San Gabriel Valley
Houses
179,856
102,656
Average household size (people)
2.8
3.1
Houses occupied
172,599 (96%)
99,543 (97%)
Houses occupied by owners
69,470 (40.2%)
47,333 (47.6%)
Houses occupied by renters
103,129 (59.8%)
52,210 (52.5%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,057
$1,828
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$520,992
$1,138,428
Estimated median house or condo value
$693,600
$723,161
Median number of rooms in apartments
3.6
3.7
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
5.5
5.9
Renting percentage
58.4%
51.7%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
3,565.7
2,909.6
Household income disparities
44.7%
44%
Housing units without a mortgage
394 (0.8%)
13,166 (31.1%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
3,069 (6.2%)
88 (0.2%)
Housing units with a mortgage
49,321 (99.2%)
29,118 (68.9%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
48 (0.1%)
2,557 (6%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
3,709 (7.5%)
2,975 (7%)
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
2.6%
1.5%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
18,532
8,660
State government workers
6,550
4,158
Unpaid family workers
178
639
Industries and Occupations
Long Beach's economy is fueled by industries such as shipping, manufacturing, healthcare, and education. In contrast, Southwest San Gabriel Valley is more residential with many residents working in nearby Los Angeles in a variety of industries.
Health Care
Both Long Beach and Southwest San Gabriel Valley boast robust healthcare systems with numerous hospitals and specialty clinics. Top-rated hospitals include the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center in Long Beach and San Gabriel Valley Medical Center in Southwest San Gabriel Valley.
Infrastructure
Long Beach boasts a well-established infrastructure with the Port of Long Beach, one of the world's largest shipping ports. Infrastructure in Southwest San Gabriel Valley is also reliable, with access to nearby Los Angeles' well-developed transportation and logistics systems.
Infrastructure
Type
Long Beach
Southwest San Gabriel Valley
TV stations
5
26
Culture and Food
Long Beach is known for its diverse food scene, numerous festivals, and vibrant nightlife. In contrast, Southwest San Gabriel Valley offers a quieter, suburban feel with an Asian-influenced culinary scene due to a high Asian population.
Sports Teams
While Southwest San Gabriel Valley doesn't house any professional sports teams itself, the proximity to Los Angeles provides access to teams like the Lakers (NBA), Dodgers (MLB), Rams (NFL). Long Beach doesn't have any major professional sports teams but sports events such as Grand Prix of Long Beach are held annually.
Long Beach, CA
Southwest San Gabriel Valley, CA
Long Beach, CA and 
Southwest San Gabriel Valley, CA : 18.1 miles
