City comparison
Yes. Columbus's crime index is 164 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 140 versus 189, using 2024 FBI data for Columbus and 2024-2025 FBI data for Long Beach.
Columbus is cheaper. Median rent is $1,295 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Columbus and Long Beach. Columbus averages 53°F while Long Beach averages 71°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,295 versus $1,871.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Columbus costs less and Long Beach 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Columbus at $1,295 average has pockets that run $1,095 and others at $1,695: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Columbus and Long Beach are 1,978 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,295 a month in Columbus to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $576 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $66,082 in Columbus to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $21,348 (32%).
The crime index goes from 164 in Columbus to 187 in Long Beach, up 23 points (14%).
The move
Long Beach and Columbus are 1,978 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,295 a month in Columbus, down $576 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $66,082 in Columbus, down $21,348 (24%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 164 in Columbus, down 23 points (12%).
Columbus, OH
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 Columbus and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
Columbus rent is 31% cheaper than Long Beach
Columbus
Winner$1,295/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,295 a month in Columbus versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Columbus is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $576/month back in your pocket ($6,912/year). Over five years that's $34,560 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, Columbus is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Columbus? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
32% higher
Long Beach's median income is 32% higher than Columbus
Columbus
$66,082
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $66,082 in Columbus, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Long Beach (about $21,348 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. Columbus can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
12% lower crime
Columbus's crime index is 12% lower than Long Beach
Columbus
Winner164 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Columbus's crime index is 164 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 12% lower in Columbus. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Columbus, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Long Beach. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 52% more comfortable than Columbus
Columbus
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Long Beach
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Columbus averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs). Columbus averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Long Beach scores 52% 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 Columbus if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Columbus is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 31% cheaper here at about $1,295 a month. Choose Columbus if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Columbus is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 12% lower than Long Beach (164 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
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 32% higher ($87,430), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,295/month in Columbus versus $1,871 in Long Beach. Median income reads $66,082 in Columbus and $87,430 in Long Beach, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Columbus rent at $1,295/month is still below Long Beach's $1,871, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $66,082 in Columbus.
Columbus clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Long Beach deserves a serious look only when your $87,430 income offer in Long Beach outweighs saving $576/month in Columbus.
Common questions
Ready to move to Columbus?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Columbus when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Columbus and Long Beach, plus other cities in OH and CA.
