City comparison
No. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 216 in Indianapolis, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 246, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Indianapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,156 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The cost gap between Indianapolis and Long Beach is the real story here. Indianapolis comes in 38% cheaper on typical rent ($1,156 vs $1,871), which over a year adds up to $8,580. Median household income runs $66,219 in Indianapolis and $87,430 in Long Beach.
Long Beach is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Indianapolis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Long Beach is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Indianapolis at $1,156 average has pockets that run $956 and others at $1,556: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Indianapolis and Long Beach are 1,810 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,156 a month in Indianapolis to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $715 a month (62%).
Median household income goes from $66,219 in Indianapolis to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $21,211 (32%).
The crime index goes from 216 in Indianapolis to 187 in Long Beach, down 29 points (13%).
The move
Long Beach and Indianapolis are 1,810 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,156 a month in Indianapolis, down $715 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $66,219 in Indianapolis, down $21,211 (24%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 216 in Indianapolis, up 29 points (16%).
Indianapolis, IN
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 Indianapolis and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
38% cheaper
Indianapolis rent is 38% cheaper than Long Beach
Indianapolis
Winner$1,156/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,156 a month in Indianapolis versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Indianapolis is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $715/month back in your pocket ($8,580/year). Over five years that's $42,900 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, Indianapolis 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
32% higher
Long Beach's median income is 32% higher than Indianapolis
Indianapolis
$66,219
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $66,219 in Indianapolis, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Long Beach (about $21,211 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. Indianapolis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
13% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 13% lower than Indianapolis
Indianapolis
216 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 216 in Indianapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 13% 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 Indianapolis. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 28% more comfortable than Indianapolis
Indianapolis
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Long Beach
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Indianapolis averages about 57°F (66°F highs); Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs). Indianapolis averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Long Beach scores 28% 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 Indianapolis if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 38% cheaper here at about $1,156 a month. Choose Indianapolis 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 32% higher ($87,430), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 13% lower than Indianapolis (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, Indianapolis undercuts Long Beach by $715/month ($1,156 vs $1,871). I would not pick Long Beach on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Indianapolis rent at $1,156/month is still below Long Beach's $1,871, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 57°F in Indianapolis and 71°F in Long Beach.
Indianapolis is the default on housing cost at $1,156/month versus $1,871 in Long Beach; Long Beach stays in play when $87,430 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $715 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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