Long Beach city, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Long Beach city is a major urban center located in California. The total population is 458,491. It ranks as the 7th most populous out of 1,577 cities and towns in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Long Beach city is 36.8 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Long Beach city is $83,969. This is 13% lower than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 7% higher. The poverty rate stands at 15.0%. This is 25% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.5%. The median home value is $762,200. Housing costs are 10% higher than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 9.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 40.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% lower than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Long Beach city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 27.2%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (11.5% vs 5.3%).

Education

34.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 5% lower than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 81.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Long Beach city, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,577 Census-designated places in California. For official data, visit data.census.gov.