City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The income gap between Long Beach and Newark is significant: $87,430 median household versus $52,060. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,871 in Long Beach and $1,392 in Newark.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Newark 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. Newark at $1,392 average has pockets that run $1,192 and others at $1,792: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Long Beach and Newark are 2,442 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $479 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $52,060 in Newark, down $35,370 (40%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 136 in Newark, down 51 points (27%).
The move
Newark and Long Beach are 2,442 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $479 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $35,370 (68%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 187 in Long Beach, up 51 points (38%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Newark, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
26% cheaper
Newark rent is 26% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Newark is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $479/month back in your pocket ($5,748/year). Over five years that's $28,740 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, Newark is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
68% higher
Long Beach's median income is 68% higher than Newark
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 68% higher in Long Beach (about $35,370 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. Newark can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
27% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 27% lower than Long Beach
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% lower in Newark. 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, Newark 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
45% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 45% more comfortable than Newark
Long Beach
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Long Beach sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach scores 45% 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 Newark 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 68% 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
Newark is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 26% cheaper here at about $1,392 a month. Choose Newark if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Newark is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 27% lower than Long Beach (136 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
Long Beach posts $87,430 median household income against $52,060 in Newark. That 40% pay gap is the story when rents are $1,392 in Newark and $1,871 in Long Beach.
Long Beach still pays more locally ($87,430 median income vs $52,060), which can offset the lease if your field pays Long Beach rates.
Weather averages land near 71°F in Long Beach and 54°F in Newark.
Long Beach leads on local pay ($87,430 median income vs $52,060), even though rent runs $1,871 versus $1,392 — skip Long Beach only if you are optimizing for the cheaper lease, not the paycheck.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Newark when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Long Beach and Newark, plus other cities in CA and NJ.
