Compton vs Long Beach
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $580,200 in Compton and $806,600 in Long Beach.
- Households earn more in Long Beach ($87,430 vs $78,465 median).
- Long Beach is growing faster: -3.5% since 2020 vs -5.5%.
Side by side
| Compton, CA | Long Beach, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 90,500 | 450,469 |
| Growth since 2020 | -5.5% | -3.5% |
| People per square mile | 9,026 | 8,890 |
| Median age | 33.3 | 37.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11% | 36% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $78,465 | $87,430 |
| Median home value | $580,200 | $806,600 |
| Home value to income | 7.4× | 9.2× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,664 | $1,871 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 113.6 | 113.6 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 170.4 | 170.4 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $85,200 | $85,200 |
| Homeowners | 56% | 41% |
| Top state income tax | 13.3% | 13.3% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.03% | 9.03% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 30.5 | 29.9 |
| Work from home | 5% | 16% |
| Take public transit | 4% | 4% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 8% | 6.5% |
| Poverty rate | 17.9% | 14.8% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 67° / 47° | 67° / 47° |
| July high / low | 77° / 62° | 77° / 62° |
| Precipitation per year | 14 in | 14 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 6 | 6 |
| Nights below freezing | 0 | 0 |
| Comfortable months | 12 | 12 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Very High | Very High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 11% | 11% |
| Home prices, past year | +1.2% | +1.2% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +31.9% | +31.9% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Compton: January to December. Long Beach: January to December.
Full monthly tables: Compton weather by month and Long Beach weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $85,200 in Compton and $85,200 in Long Beach. Moving from Compton to Long Beach, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.