City comparison
Yes. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 240 in Anchorage, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 295, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Anchorage is cheaper. Median rent is $1,489 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Long Beach and Anchorage. Long Beach averages 71°F while Anchorage averages 34°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,871 versus $1,489.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Anchorage is the easier city on typical rent, but Long Beach can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Anchorage at $1,489 average has pockets that run $1,289 and others at $1,889: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Long Beach and Anchorage are 2,359 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,489 a month in Anchorage, down $382 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $103,284 in Anchorage, up $15,854 (18%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 240 in Anchorage, up 53 points (28%).
The move
Anchorage and Long Beach are 2,359 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,489 a month in Anchorage to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $382 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $103,284 in Anchorage to $87,430 in Long Beach, down $15,854 (15%).
The crime index goes from 240 in Anchorage to 187 in Long Beach, down 53 points (22%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anchorage, AK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Anchorage? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Anchorage rent is 20% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Anchorage
Winner$1,489/mo
Typical rent runs $1,489 a month in Anchorage versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Anchorage is 20% 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 $4,584, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Anchorage 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 Anchorage? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Anchorage's median income is 18% higher than Long Beach
Long Beach
$87,430
Anchorage
Winner$103,284
Median household income is $103,284 in Anchorage versus $87,430 in Long Beach, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Anchorage (about $15,854 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, Anchorage is the stronger labor market on paper. Long Beach can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
22% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 22% lower than Anchorage
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Anchorage
240 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 240 in Anchorage (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% 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. Anchorage can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
669% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 669% more comfortable than Anchorage
Long Beach
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Anchorage
34°F avg · 39°F highs · comfort 13/100
Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Anchorage averages about 34°F (39°F highs). Long Beach sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anchorage averages around 34°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach scores 669% 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 Anchorage if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Long Beach if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat Anchorage on this page's weather index by 669%. Anchorage may pay more or cost less, but Long Beach is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 22% lower than Anchorage (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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Anchorage is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,489 a month. Choose Anchorage if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Anchorage is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($103,284). Start with Anchorage if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,871/month rent in Long Beach at 71°F versus $1,489 in Anchorage at 34°F. Income runs $87,430 vs $103,284, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Safety scores read 41/100 in Long Beach and 33/100 in Anchorage.
Between Long Beach and Anchorage, Long Beach is ahead on climate — 71°F typical weather versus 34°F. Lean Anchorage instead when you would rather tolerate 34°F than optimize for Long Beach's comfort score.
Typical rent stays $1,489 in Anchorage and $1,871 in Long Beach.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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