Long Beach, MS vs West Hattiesburg, MS

West Hattiesburg is moderately more affordable than Long Beach, with a 6.9% lower cost of living index. Long Beach scores 85 compared to 79 for West Hattiesburg, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Long Beach can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Long Beach is $1,209/month compared to $1,014/month in West Hattiesburg — a 19% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while West Hattiesburg has cheaper rent, Long Beach actually has lower median home values ($205,300 vs $209,100).

Median household income in Long Beach is $71,121 compared to $38,269 in West Hattiesburg (+85.8%). While Long Beach is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Long Beach spend roughly 20.4% of their income on rent, less than the 31.8% in West Hattiesburg. The Long Beach ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (68.3°F vs 66.5°F). Long Beach receives more rainfall at 62.8" per year compared to 58.9" in West Hattiesburg.