Situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California,
Long Beach is the 36th largest city in the United States. The city is extremely livable, with a sunny climate, stable housing, and a high per capita income.
Cost of Living
According to city ratings website
AreaVibes, it’s expensive to live in Long Beach. The cost of living index is 137. When compared to the average of 100, the city’s index is 37 percent over than the national average and four percent over the state cost of living index of 133.
The median household income is high, at almost $53,000, which is lower than the overall
California statewide median of approximately $61,000.
Housing
The
median home price in Columbus is over $440,000, and the median gross rent is approximately $1,100. Compared to the national average purchase price of $181,400, these prices are high.
About 41 percent of homes are occupied by owners, with the remaining 59 percent are held by renters. Only seven percent of homes in the area are vacant and 42 percent of those are for sale only. The housing market can be a bit tricky based on inventory and high prices, but it remains stable.
Weather
Long Beach is sunny and warm. In August, the average temperature tops out at around 72 degrees, while in December, the low average temperature is a mild 55 degrees.
In February, the region sees its highest levels of precipitation, at 3.6 inches. Only three months out of the year see precipitation over one inch, and June through August averages no precipitation. Four days out of the year see unhealthy air quality, with 285 having good to moderate air.
Education
Long Beach has a student to teacher ratio of 21:1, which is high compared to the national 16:1 ratio. The city has 80 public and 52 private schools.
Roughly 77 percent of residents complete high school with over 60 percent completing some college and almost 29 percent holding at least a four year degree from institutions such as California State University Long Beach campus. The biggest school district is Long Beach Unified School District.
Outdoor Recreation
Long Beach features over five miles of waterfront trails for biking, rollerblading, and hiking. Water sports are very popular, with options including kayaking, jet skiing, windsurfing, and boating.
For those who want to enjoy natural surroundings, the Plaza neighborhood features nine parks within one mile.
Arts and Culture
The Long Beach Museum of Art is located in a beautiful historic venue, the Elizabeth Milbank Anderson home. The area also hosts a wonderful Museum of Latin American Art.
For the musically inclined, the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music and the Long Beach Symphony host a wealth of concerts every year in classical, jazz, and world music styles. The five-acre Aquarium of the Pacific is also a sight not to be missed.
Restaurants
Long Beach is one of the best kept culinary secrets in California. With roots in Latin American and Southeast Asia, the town features a strong ethic experience and an excellent culinary scene.
Some of the most popular restaurants in the area include LBJ’s Fine Foods soul food establishment, Pho Hong Phat Vietnamese cuisine, The Attic Cajun comfort food, and Sura Korean cuisine.
Sports
The Long Beach Grand Prix is the biggest professional sporting event in the city, drawing Formula One fans from all over the nation. Other popular sports include the Long Beach Marathon, which is run in October every year and attracts nearly 50,000 fans. Rugby is also a popular sport in the area, with the three-time champion Belmont Shore rugby team competing in the U.S. Rugby Super League.
Featured image source: Flickr user Bram P
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