City comparison
No. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Baltimore is cheaper. Median rent is $1,331 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Safety is where Baltimore and Long Beach split most clearly. Long Beach scores 151 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,871 in Long Beach.
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. Baltimore 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.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Baltimore at $1,331 average has pockets that run $1,131 and others at $1,731: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Baltimore and Long Beach are 2,319 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $540 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $25,253 (41%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 187 in Long Beach, down 151 points (45%).
The move
Long Beach and Baltimore are 2,319 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, down $540 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $25,253 (29%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 338 in Baltimore, up 151 points (81%).
Baltimore, MD
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 Baltimore and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
29% cheaper
Baltimore rent is 29% cheaper than Long Beach
Baltimore
Winner$1,331/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,331 a month in Baltimore versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Baltimore is 29% cheaper. That's roughly $540/month back in your pocket ($6,480/year). Over five years that's $32,400 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Long Beach, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Baltimore is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
41% higher
Long Beach's median income is 41% higher than Baltimore
Baltimore
$62,177
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 41% higher in Long Beach (about $25,253 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Long Beach is the stronger labor market on paper. Baltimore can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
45% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 45% lower than Baltimore
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% lower in Long Beach. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Long Beach is the easier city. Baltimore can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 39% more comfortable than Baltimore
Baltimore
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Baltimore averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Baltimore averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Long Beach scores 39% 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 Baltimore 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 Baltimore
Baltimore is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 29% cheaper here at about $1,331 a month. Choose Baltimore 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 41% 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 45% lower than Baltimore (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Long Beach leads on safety (41/100 vs 23/100 in Baltimore). Typical rent is $1,871 in Long Beach and $1,331 in Baltimore; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Long Beach still pays more locally ($87,430 median income vs $62,177), which can offset the lease if your field pays Long Beach rates.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Baltimore and 76°F in Long Beach.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Long Beach; Baltimore only makes sense when you have walked the Baltimore ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,331 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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