City comparison
No. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Long Beach and Fort Wayne. Long Beach averages 71°F while Fort Wayne averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,871 versus $999.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and Long Beach pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Fort Wayne at $999 average has pockets that run $799 and others at $1,399: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Long Beach and Fort Wayne are 1,871 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $872 a month (47%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $26,008 (30%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 83 points (44%).
The move
Fort Wayne and Long Beach are 1,871 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $872 a month (87%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $26,008 (42%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 187 in Long Beach, up 83 points (80%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Fort Wayne, IN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
47% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 47% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Fort Wayne is 47% cheaper. That's roughly $872/month back in your pocket ($10,464/year). Over five years that's $52,320 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, Fort Wayne is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
42% higher
Long Beach's median income is 42% higher than Fort Wayne
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 42% higher in Long Beach (about $26,008 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. Fort Wayne can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
44% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 44% lower than Long Beach
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 44% lower in Fort Wayne. 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, Fort Wayne is the easier city. Long Beach can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 64% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Long Beach
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). Long Beach sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Fort Wayne averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach scores 64% 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 Fort Wayne 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 42% 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.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Fort Wayne is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 47% cheaper here at about $999 a month. Choose Fort Wayne if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fort Wayne is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 44% lower than Long Beach (104 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.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Fort Wayne at $999/month versus $1,871 in Long Beach ($872 apart). Long Beach median income is $87,430 against $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Fort Wayne rent at $999/month is still below Long Beach's $1,871, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne.
Pick Fort Wayne when shaving $872 off rent at $999/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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Next steps
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