City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Irving is cheaper. Median rent is $1,619 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Safety is where Long Beach and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 88 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 $1,619 in Irving.
This is a genuine split. Long Beach wins on the job market and Irving wins on cost of living 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. Irving has rougher pockets and Long Beach has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Long Beach and Irving are 1,226 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,619 a month in Irving, down $252 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $81,830 in Irving, down $5,600 (6%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 99 in Irving, down 88 points (47%).
The move
Irving and Long Beach are 1,226 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $252 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $5,600 (7%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 187 in Long Beach, up 88 points (89%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irving, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Irving rent is 13% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Irving
Winner$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,619 a month in Irving versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Irving is 13% 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 $3,024, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Irving 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 Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Long Beach's median income is 7% higher than Irving
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Irving
$81,830
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $81,830 in Irving, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Long Beach (about $5,600 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
47% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 47% lower than Long Beach
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% lower in Irving. 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, Irving 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 Irving are about even on typical weather.
Long Beach
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irving
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Long Beach sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving sits near 70°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Long Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 7% higher here ($87,430). Start with Long Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Irving is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,619 a month. Choose Irving if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Irving is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 47% lower than Long Beach (99 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Irving: Irving scores 60/100 versus 41/100 in Long Beach, with typical rent at $1,619 versus $1,871. I would vet the exact ZIP in Long Beach before trading 19 safety points for housing savings.
Long Beach still pays more locally ($87,430 median income vs $81,830), which can offset the lease if your field pays Long Beach rates.
Median income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $81,830 in Irving.
Pick Irving when you want the stronger safety signal (60/100). Otherwise, Long Beach's case rests on a Long Beach ZIP you trust at $1,871 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Irving when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
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