City comparison
Yes. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Long Beach is cheaper. Median rent is $1,871 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
Safety is where Long Beach and Oakland split most clearly. Long Beach scores 247 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 $1,979 in Oakland.
This is a genuine split. Long Beach wins on cost of living and safety and Oakland wins on the job market. 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. Long Beach has rougher pockets and Oakland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Long Beach and Oakland are 361 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $108 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $101,600 in Oakland, up $14,170 (16%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 434 in Oakland, up 247 points (132%).
The move
Oakland and Long Beach are 361 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, down $108 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $87,430 in Long Beach, down $14,170 (14%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 187 in Long Beach, down 247 points (57%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Oakland, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Oakland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Long Beach rent is 5% cheaper than Oakland
Long Beach
Winner$1,871/mo
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Typical rent runs $1,871 a month in Long Beach versus $1,979 in Oakland, so Long Beach is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $108, or $1,296 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
16% higher
Oakland's median income is 16% higher than Long Beach
Long Beach
$87,430
Oakland
Winner$101,600
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $87,430 in Long Beach, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Oakland (about $14,170 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, Oakland 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
57% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 57% lower than Oakland
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% 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. Oakland 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 Oakland are about even on typical weather.
Long Beach
76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oakland
68°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs); Oakland averages about 68°F (80°F highs). Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Oakland sits near 68°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
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Long Beach is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% 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.
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 57% lower than Oakland (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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Oakland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 16% higher here ($101,600). Start with Oakland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Long Beach scores 41/100 versus 15/100 in Oakland. Rent is $1,871/month in Long Beach and $1,979/month in Oakland, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Long Beach rent at $1,871/month is still below Oakland's $1,979, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,871 in Long Beach and $1,979 in Oakland.
Long Beach is ahead on safety (41/100 vs 15/100); Oakland is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,979/month rent plus $101,600 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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