City comparison
No. Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Long Beach is cheaper. Median rent is $1,871 a month versus $2,007 in Jersey City.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Long Beach and Jersey City. Long Beach averages 76°F while Jersey City averages 53°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,871 versus $2,007.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Long Beach costs less and Jersey City 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 crime gap is citywide. Jersey City has rougher pockets and Long Beach has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Long Beach and Jersey City are 2,447 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $2,007 a month in Jersey City, up $136 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $97,710 in Jersey City, up $10,280 (12%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 135 in Jersey City, down 52 points (28%).
The move
Jersey City and Long Beach are 2,447 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,007 a month in Jersey City to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, down $136 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $97,710 in Jersey City to $87,430 in Long Beach, down $10,280 (11%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Jersey City to 187 in Long Beach, up 52 points (39%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Jersey City, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Jersey City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Long Beach rent is 7% cheaper than Jersey City
Long Beach
Winner$1,871/mo
Jersey City
$2,007/mo
Typical rent runs $1,871 a month in Long Beach versus $2,007 in Jersey City, so Long Beach is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $136, or $1,632 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Jersey City's median income is 12% higher than Long Beach
Long Beach
$87,430
Jersey City
Winner$97,710
Median household income is $97,710 in Jersey City versus $87,430 in Long Beach, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Jersey City (about $10,280 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, Jersey City 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
28% lower crime
Jersey City's crime index is 28% lower than Long Beach
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Jersey City
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 28% lower in Jersey City. 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, Jersey City 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
52% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 52% more comfortable than Jersey City
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jersey City
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs); Jersey City averages about 53°F (58°F highs). Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Jersey City averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach scores 52% 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 Jersey City if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Long Beach is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% 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.
Pick Long Beach if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (76°F) beat Jersey City on this page's weather index by 52%. Jersey City may pay more or cost less, but Long Beach is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Jersey City is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 12% higher here ($97,710). Start with Jersey City if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Jersey City 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 (135 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
Weather separates these metros: $1,871/month rent in Long Beach at 76°F versus $2,007 in Jersey City at 53°F. Income runs $87,430 vs $97,710, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Long Beach rent at $1,871/month is still below Jersey City's $2,007, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $97,710 in Jersey City versus $87,430 in Long Beach.
Long Beach wins on climate (76°F vs 53°F); Jersey City is the better fit if $2,007 rent and $97,710 pay matter more than daily weather.
Common questions
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