City comparison
No. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The income gap between Houston and Long Beach is significant: $64,813 median household versus $87,430. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,361 in Houston and $1,871 in Long Beach.
This is a genuine split. Houston 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. Houston at $1,361 average has pockets that run $1,161 and others at $1,761: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Houston and Long Beach are 1,366 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $510 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $22,617 (35%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 187 in Long Beach, down 83 points (31%).
The move
Long Beach and Houston are 1,366 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $510 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $64,813 in Houston, down $22,617 (26%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 270 in Houston, up 83 points (44%).
Houston, 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 Houston and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
Houston rent is 27% cheaper than Long Beach
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Houston is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $510/month back in your pocket ($6,120/year). Over five years that's $30,600 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, Houston 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
35% higher
Long Beach's median income is 35% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Long Beach (about $22,617 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. Houston can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
31% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 31% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 270 in Houston (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. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Houston and Long Beach are about even on typical weather.
Houston
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach
76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Houston sits near 70°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Houston
Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 27% cheaper here at about $1,361 a month. Choose Houston 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 35% 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 31% lower than Houston (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
On rent alone, Houston undercuts Long Beach by $510/month ($1,361 vs $1,871). I would not pick Long Beach on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Houston rent at $1,361/month is still below Long Beach's $1,871, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Houston and 41/100 in Long Beach.
Houston is the default on housing cost at $1,361/month versus $1,871 in Long Beach; Long Beach stays in play when $87,430 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $510 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Long Beach, plus other cities in TX and CA.
