City comparison
No. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Denver is cheaper. Median rent is $1,831 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Safety is where Denver and Long Beach split most clearly. Long Beach scores 84 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver and $1,871 in Long Beach.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Denver is the easier city on typical rent, but Long Beach can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Long Beach has rougher pockets and Denver has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Denver and Long Beach are 838 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $40 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $87,430 in Long Beach, down $7,288 (8%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 187 in Long Beach, down 84 points (31%).
The move
Long Beach and Denver are 838 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,831 a month in Denver, down $40 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $94,718 in Denver, up $7,288 (8%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 271 in Denver, up 84 points (45%).
Denver, CO
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 Denver and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Denver rent is 2% cheaper than Long Beach
Denver
Winner$1,831/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,831 a month in Denver versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Denver is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $40, or $480 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Denver? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Denver's median income is 8% higher than Long Beach
Denver
Winner$94,718
Long Beach
$87,430
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $87,430 in Long Beach, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Denver (about $7,288 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
31% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 31% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 9% more comfortable than Denver
Denver
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Long Beach scores 9% 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 Denver 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
Denver is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,831 a month. Choose Denver if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($94,718). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
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 Denver on this page's weather index by 9%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but Long Beach is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 31% lower than Denver (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
Safety is the widest gap: Long Beach scores 41/100 versus 30/100 in Denver. Rent is $1,871/month in Long Beach and $1,831/month in Denver, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (41/100 in Long Beach vs 30/100 in Denver), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $94,718 in Denver versus $87,430 in Long Beach.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Long Beach; Denver only makes sense when you have walked the Denver ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,831 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Denver when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Denver and Long Beach, plus other cities in CO and CA.
