City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Long Beach and Madison. Long Beach averages 71°F while Madison averages 48°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,871 versus $1,413.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison 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. Madison at $1,413 average has pockets that run $1,213 and others at $1,813: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Long Beach and Madison are 1,675 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $458 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $78,050 in Madison, down $9,380 (11%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 91 in Madison, down 96 points (51%).
The move
Madison and Long Beach are 1,675 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $458 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $9,380 (12%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 187 in Long Beach, up 96 points (105%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Madison, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
Madison rent is 24% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Madison is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $458/month back in your pocket ($5,496/year). Over five years that's $27,480 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, Madison is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Long Beach's median income is 12% higher than Madison
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Long Beach (about $9,380 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. Madison can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
51% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 51% lower than Long Beach
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 51% lower in Madison. 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, Madison 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
92% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 92% more comfortable than Madison
Long Beach
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). Long Beach sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Madison averages around 48°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach scores 92% 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 Madison 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 12% higher ($87,430), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°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
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 24% cheaper here at about $1,413 a month. Choose Madison if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 51% lower than Long Beach (91 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 Madison: Madison scores 63/100 versus 41/100 in Long Beach, with typical rent at $1,413 versus $1,871. I would vet the exact ZIP in Long Beach before trading 22 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 41/100 in Long Beach), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $1,871 in Long Beach.
Madison clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Long Beach deserves a serious look only 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
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Nearby research
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