City comparison
Yes. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 231 in Cincinnati, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 237, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cincinnati is cheaper. Median rent is $1,001 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The income gap between Long Beach and Cincinnati is significant: $87,430 median household versus $52,909. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,871 in Long Beach and $1,001 in Cincinnati.
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. Cincinnati 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. Cincinnati at $1,001 average has pockets that run $801 and others at $1,401: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Long Beach and Cincinnati are 1,897 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,001 a month in Cincinnati, down $870 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $52,909 in Cincinnati, down $34,521 (39%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 231 in Cincinnati, up 44 points (24%).
The move
Cincinnati and Long Beach are 1,897 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,001 a month in Cincinnati to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $870 a month (87%).
Median household income goes from $52,909 in Cincinnati to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $34,521 (65%).
The crime index goes from 231 in Cincinnati to 187 in Long Beach, down 44 points (19%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cincinnati, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Cincinnati? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
46% cheaper
Cincinnati rent is 46% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Cincinnati
Winner$1,001/mo
Typical rent runs $1,001 a month in Cincinnati versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Cincinnati is 46% cheaper. That's roughly $870/month back in your pocket ($10,440/year). Over five years that's $52,200 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, Cincinnati 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
65% higher
Long Beach's median income is 65% higher than Cincinnati
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Cincinnati
$52,909
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $52,909 in Cincinnati, so typical pay runs 65% higher in Long Beach (about $34,521 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. Cincinnati can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
19% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 19% lower than Cincinnati
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Cincinnati
231 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 231 in Cincinnati (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 19% 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. Cincinnati can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 52% more comfortable than Cincinnati
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cincinnati
53°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 66/100
Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs); Cincinnati averages about 53°F (62°F highs). Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cincinnati averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach scores 52% 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 Cincinnati if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 65% 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.
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 19% lower than Cincinnati (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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Cincinnati
Cincinnati is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 46% cheaper here at about $1,001 a month. Choose Cincinnati if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Cincinnati at $1,001/month versus $1,871 in Long Beach ($870 apart). Long Beach median income is $87,430 against $52,909 in Cincinnati, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Cincinnati rent at $1,001/month is still below Long Beach's $1,871, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 76°F in Long Beach and 53°F in Cincinnati.
Pick Cincinnati when shaving $870 off rent at $1,001/month is the priority. Otherwise, Long Beach's case rests on $1,871/month rent with $87,430 local income.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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