City comparison
Yes. Boston's crime index is 147 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 175 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Long Beach is cheaper. Median rent is $1,871 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Boston and Long Beach. Boston averages 50°F while Long Beach averages 76°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $2,147 versus $1,871.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Long Beach costs less and Boston pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Boston has rougher pockets and Long Beach has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Boston and Long Beach are 2,597 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, down $276 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $87,430 in Long Beach, down $9,914 (10%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 187 in Long Beach, up 40 points (27%).
The move
Long Beach and Boston are 2,597 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $276 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $97,344 in Boston, up $9,914 (11%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 147 in Boston, down 40 points (21%).
Boston, MA
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 Boston and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Long Beach rent is 13% cheaper than Boston
Boston
$2,147/mo
Long Beach
Winner$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,871 a month in Long Beach versus $2,147 in Boston, so Long Beach is 13% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,312, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Long Beach still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Boston.
Planning to buy in Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Boston's median income is 11% higher than Long Beach
Boston
Winner$97,344
Long Beach
$87,430
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $87,430 in Long Beach, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Boston (about $9,914 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, Boston is the stronger labor market on paper. Long Beach can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
21% lower crime
Boston's crime index is 21% lower than Long Beach
Boston
Winner147 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Boston's crime index is 147 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% lower in Boston. 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, Boston is the easier city. Long Beach can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 72% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
50°F avg · 56°F highs · comfort 58/100
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boston averages about 50°F (56°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Boston averages around 50°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 72% 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 Boston if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Boston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 11% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Boston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than Long Beach (147 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.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Long Beach is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,871 a month. Choose Long Beach if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Long Beach if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (76°F) beat Boston on this page's weather index by 72%. Boston may pay more or cost less, but Long Beach is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Long Beach runs 76°F typical weather against 50°F in Boston (comfort scores 100 vs 58). Housing is $1,871/month versus $2,147/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
Boston still pays more locally ($97,344 median income vs $87,430), which can offset the lease if your field pays Boston rates.
Typical rent stays $1,871 in Long Beach and $2,147 in Boston.
Boston clears the bar on climate in this dataset. Long Beach deserves a serious look only when you would rather tolerate 76°F than optimize for Boston's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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