City comparison
No. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The income gap between Dallas and Long Beach is significant: $70,518 median household versus $87,430. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,472 in Dallas and $1,871 in Long Beach.
This is a genuine split. Dallas wins on cost of living and Long Beach wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Dallas at $1,472 average has pockets that run $1,272 and others at $1,872: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Dallas and Long Beach are 1,235 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $399 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $16,912 (24%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 187 in Long Beach, down 1 points (1%).
The move
Long Beach and Dallas are 1,235 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $399 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $70,518 in Dallas, down $16,912 (19%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 188 in Dallas, up 1 points (1%).
Dallas, TX
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 Dallas and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Dallas rent is 21% cheaper than Long Beach
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Dallas is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $399/month back in your pocket ($4,788/year). Over five years that's $23,940 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, Dallas 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
24% higher
Long Beach's median income is 24% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Long Beach (about $16,912 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. Dallas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
1% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 1% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 1% 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 Dallas. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Dallas and Long Beach are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Long Beach sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Dallas
Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 21% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas 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 and professional growth
Long Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 24% higher here ($87,430). Start with Long Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 1% lower than Dallas (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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,472/month in Dallas versus $1,871 in Long Beach. Median income reads $70,518 in Dallas and $87,430 in Long Beach, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Dallas rent at $1,472/month is still below Long Beach's $1,871, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 41/100 in Dallas and 41/100 in Long Beach.
Pick Dallas when shaving $399 off rent at $1,472/month is the priority. Otherwise, Long Beach's case rests on $1,871/month rent with $87,430 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Long Beach when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Long Beach, plus other cities in TX and CA.
