City comparison
Yes. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Long Beach and Cleveland. Long Beach averages 71°F while Cleveland averages 52°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,871 versus $1,060.
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. Cleveland 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. Cleveland at $1,060 average has pockets that run $860 and others at $1,460: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Long Beach and Cleveland are 2,051 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $811 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $22,962 (26%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 341 in Cleveland, up 154 points (82%).
The move
Cleveland and Long Beach are 2,051 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $811 a month (77%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $22,962 (36%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 187 in Long Beach, down 154 points (45%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cleveland, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
43% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 43% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Cleveland is 43% cheaper. That's roughly $811/month back in your pocket ($9,732/year). Over five years that's $48,660 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, Cleveland 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
36% higher
Long Beach's median income is 36% higher than Cleveland
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Cleveland
$64,468
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 36% higher in Long Beach (about $22,962 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. Cleveland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
45% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 45% lower than Cleveland
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% 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. Cleveland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 56% more comfortable than Cleveland
Long Beach
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cleveland
52°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 64/100
Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Cleveland averages about 52°F (58°F highs). Long Beach sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cleveland averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach scores 56% 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 Cleveland 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 36% 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 45% lower than Cleveland (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 Cleveland
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 43% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,060/month in Cleveland versus $1,871 in Long Beach. Median income reads $64,468 in Cleveland and $87,430 in Long Beach, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Safety still diverges (41/100 in Long Beach vs 23/100 in Cleveland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 71°F in Long Beach and 52°F in Cleveland.
Pick Cleveland when shaving $811 off rent at $1,060/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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