City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Safety is where El Paso and Long Beach split most clearly. El Paso scores 100 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,073 in El Paso and $1,871 in Long Beach.
This is a genuine split. El Paso wins on cost of living and safety and Long Beach wins on the job market. 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. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
El Paso and Long Beach are 694 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $798 a month (74%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $27,685 (46%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 187 in Long Beach, up 100 points (115%).
The move
Long Beach and El Paso are 694 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $798 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $59,745 in El Paso, down $27,685 (32%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 87 in El Paso, down 100 points (53%).
El Paso, 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 El Paso and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
43% cheaper
El Paso rent is 43% cheaper than Long Beach
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so El Paso is 43% cheaper. That's roughly $798/month back in your pocket ($9,576/year). Over five years that's $47,880 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, El Paso is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
46% higher
Long Beach's median income is 46% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 46% higher in Long Beach (about $27,685 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. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
53% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 53% lower than Long Beach
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso 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
Neck and neck
El Paso and Long Beach are about even on typical weather.
El Paso
66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach
76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Long Beach sits near 76°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
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 43% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 53% lower than Long Beach (87 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 and professional growth
Long Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 46% higher here ($87,430). Start with Long Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,073/month in El Paso versus $1,871 in Long Beach. Median income reads $59,745 in El Paso and $87,430 in Long Beach, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
El Paso rent at $1,073/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 $59,745 in El Paso.
If housing cost drives your move, El Paso is the stronger match ($1,073/month rent against $1,871). If an employer or family tie already points to Long Beach, treat $1,871/month rent and $87,430 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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