City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Huntsville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,171 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The cost gap between Long Beach and Huntsville is the real story here. Huntsville comes in 37% cheaper on typical rent ($1,871 vs $1,171), which over a year adds up to $8,400. Median household income runs $87,430 in Long Beach and $74,714 in Huntsville.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Huntsville 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. Huntsville at $1,171 average has pockets that run $971 and others at $1,571: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Long Beach and Huntsville are 1,799 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, down $700 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $74,714 in Huntsville, down $12,716 (15%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 134 in Huntsville, down 53 points (28%).
The move
Huntsville and Long Beach are 1,799 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $700 a month (60%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $12,716 (17%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 187 in Long Beach, up 53 points (40%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Huntsville, AL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
37% cheaper
Huntsville rent is 37% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Huntsville
Winner$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,171 a month in Huntsville versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Huntsville is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $700/month back in your pocket ($8,400/year). Over five years that's $42,000 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, Huntsville is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
17% higher
Long Beach's median income is 17% higher than Huntsville
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Huntsville
$74,714
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $74,714 in Huntsville, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Long Beach (about $12,716 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. Huntsville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
28% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 28% lower than Long Beach
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 28% lower in Huntsville. 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, Huntsville 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
6% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 6% more comfortable than Huntsville
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Huntsville
63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Huntsville averages around 63°F. Long Beach scores 6% 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 Huntsville 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 17% 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
Huntsville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 37% cheaper here at about $1,171 a month. Choose Huntsville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Huntsville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 28% lower than Long Beach (134 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: $1,171/month in Huntsville versus $1,871 in Long Beach. Median income reads $74,714 in Huntsville and $87,430 in Long Beach, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Huntsville vs 41/100 in Long Beach), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 76°F in Long Beach and 63°F in Huntsville.
Huntsville 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 $700/month in Huntsville.
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