City comparison
Yes. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The income gap between Jacksonville and Long Beach is significant: $69,872 median household versus $87,430. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,871 in Long Beach.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Jacksonville costs less and Long Beach pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Jacksonville at $1,465 average has pockets that run $1,265 and others at $1,865: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Jacksonville and Long Beach are 2,141 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $406 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $17,558 (25%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 187 in Long Beach, up 37 points (25%).
The move
Long Beach and Jacksonville are 2,141 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $406 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $17,558 (20%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 150 in Jacksonville, down 37 points (20%).
Jacksonville, FL
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 Jacksonville and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
22% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 22% cheaper than Long Beach
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Jacksonville is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $406/month back in your pocket ($4,872/year). Over five years that's $24,360 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, Jacksonville is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
25% higher
Long Beach's median income is 25% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Long Beach (about $17,558 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. Jacksonville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
20% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 20% lower than Long Beach
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% lower in Jacksonville. 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, Jacksonville 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
2% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 2% more comfortable than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 98/100
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville averages about 73°F (80°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 73°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. Long Beach scores 2% 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 Jacksonville if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Jacksonville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 22% cheaper here at about $1,465 a month. Choose Jacksonville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Jacksonville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 20% lower than Long Beach (150 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 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 25% higher ($87,430), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Jacksonville at $1,465/month versus $1,871 in Long Beach ($406 apart). Long Beach median income is $87,430 against $69,872 in Jacksonville, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Jacksonville rent at $1,465/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 $69,872 in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Long Beach deserves a serious look only when your $87,430 income offer in Long Beach outweighs saving $406/month in Jacksonville.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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