City comparison
No. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Atlanta is cheaper. Median rent is $1,711 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Atlanta and Long Beach are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,711 in Atlanta and $1,871 in Long Beach, and median household income lands at $85,652 versus $87,430. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Long Beach is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Atlanta makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Long Beach is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Atlanta and Long Beach are 1,933 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $160 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $1,778 (2%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 187 in Long Beach, down 10 points (5%).
The move
Long Beach and Atlanta are 1,933 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, down $160 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $85,652 in Atlanta, down $1,778 (2%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 197 in Atlanta, up 10 points (5%).
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Atlanta and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Atlanta rent is 9% cheaper than Long Beach
Atlanta
Winner$1,711/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Atlanta versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Atlanta is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $160, or $1,920 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Long Beach's median income is 2% higher than Atlanta
Atlanta
$85,652
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $85,652 in Atlanta, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Long Beach (about $1,778 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
5% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 5% lower than Atlanta
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% lower in Long Beach. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Long Beach, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Atlanta. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 12% more comfortable than Atlanta
Atlanta
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Atlanta averages around 61°F. Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Long Beach scores 12% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Atlanta if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Atlanta
Atlanta is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% cheaper here at about $1,711 a month. Choose Atlanta if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 2% higher ($87,430), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Long Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 5% lower than Atlanta (187 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Atlanta (61°F) and Long Beach (76°F) are not interchangeable on climate — about 15°F apart on typical temperatures. Rent ($1,711 vs $1,871) and pay ($85,652 vs $87,430) still matter, yet most movers regret ignoring the forecast row.
With only $160 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Safety scores read 39/100 in Atlanta and 41/100 in Long Beach.
If climate drives your move, Atlanta is the stronger match (61°F typical weather versus 76°F). If an employer or family tie already points to Long Beach, treat $1,871/month rent and $87,430 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Atlanta and Long Beach, plus other cities in GA and CA.
