City comparison
No. Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 135 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Glendale is cheaper. Median rent is $1,528 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Safety is where Long Beach and Glendale split most clearly. Glendale scores 43 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 $1,528 in Glendale.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Glendale 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. Glendale at $1,528 average has pockets that run $1,328 and others at $1,928: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Long Beach and Glendale are 346 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,528 a month in Glendale, down $343 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $73,530 in Glendale, down $13,900 (16%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 144 in Glendale, down 43 points (23%).
The move
Glendale and Long Beach are 346 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $343 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $13,900 (19%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 187 in Long Beach, up 43 points (30%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Glendale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Glendale rent is 18% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Glendale
Winner$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,528 a month in Glendale versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Glendale is 18% 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 $4,116, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Glendale 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 Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
19% higher
Long Beach's median income is 19% higher than Glendale
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Glendale
$73,530
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $73,530 in Glendale, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Long Beach (about $13,900 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. Glendale can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
23% lower crime
Glendale's crime index is 23% lower than Long Beach
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Glendale
Winner144 (100 = avg)
Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 23% lower in Glendale. 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, Glendale 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
3% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 3% more comfortable than Glendale
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Glendale
81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs); Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs). Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Glendale averages around 81°F. Long Beach scores 3% 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 Glendale 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 19% 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.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Glendale is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,528 a month. Choose Glendale if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Glendale is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 23% lower than Long Beach (144 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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,528/month in Glendale versus $1,871 in Long Beach. Median income reads $73,530 in Glendale and $87,430 in Long Beach, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Glendale rent at $1,528/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 $73,530 in Glendale.
Glendale clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Long Beach deserves a serious look only when your $87,430 income offer in Long Beach outweighs saving $343/month in Glendale.
Common questions
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