City comparison
No. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 201 in Charlotte, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 187, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Charlotte is cheaper. Median rent is $1,612 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Charlotte 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 $1,612 in Charlotte and $1,871 in Long Beach, and median household income lands at $82,068 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. Charlotte 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
Charlotte and Long Beach are 2,116 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,612 a month in Charlotte to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $259 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $82,068 in Charlotte to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $5,362 (7%).
The crime index goes from 201 in Charlotte to 187 in Long Beach, down 14 points (7%).
The move
Long Beach and Charlotte are 2,116 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,612 a month in Charlotte, down $259 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $82,068 in Charlotte, down $5,362 (6%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 201 in Charlotte, up 14 points (7%).
Charlotte, NC
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 Charlotte and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Charlotte rent is 14% cheaper than Long Beach
Charlotte
Winner$1,612/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,612 a month in Charlotte versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Charlotte is 14% 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 $3,108, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Charlotte still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Long Beach.
Planning to buy in Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Long Beach's median income is 7% higher than Charlotte
Charlotte
$82,068
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $82,068 in Charlotte, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Long Beach (about $5,362 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
7% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 7% lower than Charlotte
Charlotte
201 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 201 in Charlotte (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 7% 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 Charlotte. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 20% more comfortable than Charlotte
Charlotte
59°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 83/100
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Charlotte averages about 59°F (69°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Charlotte averages around 59°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 20% 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 Charlotte 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 Charlotte
Charlotte is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,612 a month. Choose Charlotte 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 7% 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 7% lower than Charlotte (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
Long Beach runs 76°F typical weather against 59°F in Charlotte (comfort scores 100 vs 83). Housing is $1,871/month versus $1,612/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
Long Beach still pays more locally ($87,430 median income vs $82,068), which can offset the lease if your field pays Long Beach rates.
Safety scores read 39/100 in Charlotte and 41/100 in Long Beach.
Charlotte 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 Charlotte's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Charlotte and Long Beach, plus other cities in NC and CA.
