City comparison
Yes. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Long Beach and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The income gap between Long Beach and New Orleans is significant: $87,430 median household versus $56,631. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,871 in Long Beach and $1,251 in New Orleans.
This is a genuine split. Long Beach wins on the job market and safety and New Orleans wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. New Orleans at $1,251 average has pockets that run $1,051 and others at $1,651: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Long Beach and New Orleans are 1,665 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $620 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $30,799 (35%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 350 in New Orleans, up 163 points (87%).
The move
New Orleans and Long Beach are 1,665 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $620 a month (50%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $30,799 (54%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 187 in Long Beach, down 163 points (47%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
33% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 33% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so New Orleans is 33% cheaper. That's roughly $620/month back in your pocket ($7,440/year). Over five years that's $37,200 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, New Orleans is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
54% higher
Long Beach's median income is 54% higher than New Orleans
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 54% higher in Long Beach (about $30,799 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. New Orleans can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
47% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 47% lower than New Orleans
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% lower in Long Beach. 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, Long Beach is the easier city. New Orleans 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 New Orleans are about even on typical weather.
Long Beach
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
New Orleans
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Long Beach sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. New Orleans sits near 73°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 54% higher here ($87,430). Start with Long Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Long Beach 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 New Orleans (187 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to New Orleans
New Orleans is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 33% cheaper here at about $1,251 a month. Choose New Orleans if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Long Beach scores 41/100 versus 22/100 in New Orleans. Rent is $1,871/month in Long Beach and $1,251/month in New Orleans, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Long Beach still pays more locally ($87,430 median income vs $56,631), which can offset the lease if your field pays Long Beach rates.
Median income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $56,631 in New Orleans.
Long Beach is ahead on safety (41/100 vs 22/100); New Orleans is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,251/month rent plus $56,631 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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