Fairfax, VA vs Long Beach, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Fairfax
70.4
#1102 nationally
Long Beach
62.3
#1863 nationally
Fairfax leads in median household income ($128,708 vs $69,471). Long Beach leads in walk score (67 vs 54). Long Beach leads in cost of living index (142 vs 160).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Fairfax, VA | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70.4 (#1102) | 62.3 (#1863) |
| Population | 25,144 | 466,742 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $787,568 | $860,012 |
| Median Household Income | $128,708 | $69,471 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 28.4 min |
| Walk Score | 54 | 67 |
| Crime Level | 2.5 | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | N/A | 5.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 160 | 142 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+35.0 | D+32.9 |
C-
70.4 Score
Fairfax, VA
Small Virginia city with local appeal
Median Home
$787,568
Population
25,144
Crime
Low
Walk Score
54
Northeast
View Fairfax, VA →
D-
62.3 Score
Long Beach, CA
Aquatic playground of Southern California
Median Home
$860,012
Population
466,742
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Pacific
View Long Beach, CA →