City comparison
No. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Long Beach is cheaper. Median rent is $1,871 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
Safety is where Long Beach and Anaheim split most clearly. Anaheim scores 44 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,871 in Long Beach and $2,175 in Anaheim.
This is a genuine split. Long Beach wins on cost of living and Anaheim 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 crime gap is citywide. Anaheim has rougher pockets and Long Beach has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Long Beach and Anaheim are 16 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $304 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $7,797 (9%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 143 in Anaheim, down 44 points (24%).
The move
Anaheim and Long Beach are 16 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, down $304 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $87,430 in Long Beach, down $7,797 (8%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 187 in Long Beach, up 44 points (31%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Long Beach rent is 14% cheaper than Anaheim
Long Beach
Winner$1,871/mo
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Typical rent runs $1,871 a month in Long Beach versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Long Beach is 14% 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 $3,648, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Long Beach still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Anaheim.
Planning to buy in Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Anaheim's median income is 9% higher than Long Beach
Long Beach
$87,430
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $87,430 in Long Beach, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Anaheim (about $7,797 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
24% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 24% lower than Long Beach
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 24% lower in Anaheim. 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, Anaheim 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
Long Beach and Anaheim are about even on typical weather.
Long Beach
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Anaheim
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs). Long Beach sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anaheim 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 Long Beach
Long Beach is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,871 a month. Choose Long Beach 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
Anaheim is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($95,227). Start with Anaheim if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Anaheim is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 24% lower than Long Beach (143 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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,871/month in Long Beach versus $2,175 in Anaheim. Median income reads $87,430 in Long Beach and $95,227 in Anaheim, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Long Beach rent at $1,871/month is still below Anaheim's $2,175, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $87,430 in Long Beach.
If housing cost drives your move, Long Beach is the stronger match ($1,871/month rent against $2,175). If an employer or family tie already points to Anaheim, treat $2,175/month rent and $95,227 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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