City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Long Beach split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 52 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,871 in Long Beach.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth 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. Fort Worth at $1,509 average has pockets that run $1,309 and others at $1,909: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Long Beach are 1,206 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $362 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $7,923 (10%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 187 in Long Beach, up 52 points (39%).
The move
Long Beach and Fort Worth are 1,206 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $362 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $79,507 in Fort Worth, down $7,923 (9%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 135 in Fort Worth, down 52 points (28%).
Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 19% cheaper than Long Beach
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Fort Worth is 19% 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 $4,344, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Long Beach's median income is 10% higher than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$79,507
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $79,507 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Long Beach (about $7,923 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
28% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 28% lower than Long Beach
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 28% lower in Fort Worth. 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, Fort Worth 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
Fort Worth and Long Beach are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°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
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Fort Worth is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,509 a month. Choose Fort Worth if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fort Worth is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 28% lower than Long Beach (135 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 10% 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Fort Worth leads on safety (51/100 vs 41/100 in Long Beach). Typical rent is $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,871 in Long Beach; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Long Beach still pays more locally ($87,430 median income vs $79,507), which can offset the lease if your field pays Long Beach rates.
Median income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $79,507 in Fort Worth.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Fort Worth; Long Beach only makes sense when you have walked the Long Beach ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,871 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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