City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Long Beach is cheaper. Median rent is $1,871 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Safety is where Long Beach and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 140 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,871 in Long Beach and $2,110 in Gilbert.
This is a genuine split. Long Beach wins on cost of living and Gilbert wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Gilbert has rougher pockets and Long Beach has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Long Beach and Gilbert are 370 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $239 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $35,121 (40%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 47 in Gilbert, down 140 points (75%).
The move
Gilbert and Long Beach are 370 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, down $239 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $87,430 in Long Beach, down $35,121 (29%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 187 in Long Beach, up 140 points (298%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Gilbert, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Long Beach rent is 11% cheaper than Gilbert
Long Beach
Winner$1,871/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,871 a month in Long Beach versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Long Beach is 11% 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 $2,868, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Long Beach still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Gilbert.
Planning to buy in Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
40% higher
Gilbert's median income is 40% higher than Long Beach
Long Beach
$87,430
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $87,430 in Long Beach, so typical pay runs 40% higher in Gilbert (about $35,121 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, Gilbert is the stronger labor market on paper. Long Beach can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
75% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 75% lower than Long Beach
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 75% lower in Gilbert. 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, Gilbert 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
Neck and neck
Long Beach and Gilbert are about even on typical weather.
Long Beach
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Long Beach sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Gilbert sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Long Beach
Long Beach is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,871 a month. Choose Long Beach if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Gilbert is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 40% higher here ($122,551). Start with Gilbert if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Gilbert is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 75% lower than Long Beach (47 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Gilbert leads on safety (83/100 vs 41/100 in Long Beach). Typical rent is $2,110 in Gilbert and $1,871 in Long Beach; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Long Beach rent at $1,871/month is still below Gilbert's $2,110, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,871 in Long Beach and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Between Long Beach and Gilbert, Gilbert is ahead on safety — 83/100 safety versus 41/100. Lean Long Beach instead when you already know the Long Beach block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Gilbert when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Long Beach and Gilbert, plus other cities in CA and AZ.
