Is Long Beach cheaper than Denver?

No. Denver is cheaper: typical rent is $2,089 a month versus $2,903 in Long Beach — 28% lower. Median household income is $78,995 in Long Beach compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Long Beach or Denver?

Long Beach is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 122 versus 137 in Denver — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Long Beach or Denver?

School composites are close: A- in Long Beach and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Long Beach, CA vs Denver, CO

Long Beach, CA versus Denver, CO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $2,903 a month in Long Beach and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $78,995 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Long Beach takes safety, while Denver takes affordability and job market. The widest gap is rent, where Denver leads by 28% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Long Beach can feel further apart than Long Beach and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Long Beach and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Long Beach report Full Denver report

Long Beach, CA

Rent: $2,903/mo
Median income: $78,995
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Denver, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $85,853
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Rent

28% cheaper

Denver rent is 28% cheaper than Long Beach

Long Beach

$2,903/mo

Denver

Winner

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $2,089 a month in Denver versus $2,903 in Long Beach, so Denver is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $814/month back in your pocket — $9,768/year. Over five years that's $48,840 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, Denver is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

9% higher

Denver's median income is 9% higher than Long Beach

Long Beach

$78,995

Denver

Winner

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,853 in Denver versus $78,995 in Long Beach, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Denver — about $6,858 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

11% lower crime

Long Beach's crime index is 11% lower than Denver

Long Beach

Winner

122 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Long Beach's crime index is 122 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Long Beach. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Long Beach, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Denver. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Long Beach and Denver are about even on school scores.

Long Beach

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Long Beach, A- in Denver). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

Neck and neck

Long Beach and Denver are about even on typical weather.

Long Beach

82°F typical

Denver

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Outdoor comfort is close between Long Beach and Denver. Typical temperatures sit around 82°F in Long Beach and 82°F in Denver. You are choosing a flavor of season, not paradise versus misery. Visit in the season you currently like least. A long weekend in October lies; a week in July or January does not.

Fit check

Who should choose Long Beach

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

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 11% lower than Denver (122 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.

Open the Long Beach report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Denver is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 28% cheaper here at about $2,089 a month. Choose Denver if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($85,853). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Long Beach vs Denver, called

If cost of living is your priority, Denver is the clear choice.

If safety matters more to you, Long Beach pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Denver offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Long Beach vs Denver FAQ

Is Long Beach cheaper than Denver?: No. Denver is cheaper: typical rent is $2,089 a month versus $2,903 in Long Beach — 28% lower. Median household income is $78,995 in Long Beach compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Long Beach or Denver?: Long Beach is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 122 versus 137 in Denver — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Long Beach or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Long Beach and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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