City comparison
Yes. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Long Beach and Durham are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,871 in Long Beach and $1,508 in Durham, and median household income lands at $87,430 versus $81,619. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
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. Durham 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. Durham at $1,508 average has pockets that run $1,308 and others at $1,908: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Long Beach and Durham are 2,217 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $363 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $81,619 in Durham, down $5,811 (7%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 193 in Durham, up 6 points (3%).
The move
Durham and Long Beach are 2,217 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $363 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $5,811 (7%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 187 in Long Beach, down 6 points (3%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Durham rent is 19% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Durham is 19% 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 $4,356, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Durham 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 Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Long Beach's median income is 7% higher than Durham
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Durham
$81,619
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Long Beach (about $5,811 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
3% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 3% lower than Durham
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 3% 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 Durham. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach scores 20% 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 Durham 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 7% 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 3% lower than Durham (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 Durham
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,508 a month. Choose Durham if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,871/month rent in Long Beach at 76°F versus $1,508 in Durham at 59°F. Income runs $87,430 vs $81,619, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Long Beach still pays more locally ($87,430 median income vs $81,619), which can offset the lease if your field pays Long Beach rates.
Median income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $81,619 in Durham.
Long Beach wins on climate (76°F vs 59°F); Durham is the better fit if $1,508 rent and $81,619 pay matter more than daily weather.
Common questions
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