City comparison
Yes. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 241, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Long Beach and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Orlando is cheaper. Median rent is $1,747 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Safety is where Long Beach and Orlando split most clearly. Long Beach scores 55 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 $1,747 in Orlando.
This is a genuine split. Long Beach wins on the job market and safety and Orlando 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 crime gap is citywide. Long Beach has rougher pockets and Orlando has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Long Beach and Orlando are 2,195 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,747 a month in Orlando, down $124 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $72,336 in Orlando, down $15,094 (17%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 242 in Orlando, up 55 points (29%).
The move
Orlando and Long Beach are 2,195 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $124 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $15,094 (21%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 187 in Long Beach, down 55 points (23%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Orlando, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Orlando rent is 7% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Orlando
Winner$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,747 a month in Orlando versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Orlando is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $124, or $1,488 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
21% higher
Long Beach's median income is 21% higher than Orlando
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Orlando
$72,336
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 21% higher in Long Beach (about $15,094 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. Orlando can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
23% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 23% lower than Orlando
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 23% 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. Orlando 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 Orlando are about even on typical weather.
Long Beach
76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Orlando
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (77°F highs). Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Orlando sits near 71°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 21% 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 23% lower than Orlando (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 Orlando
Orlando is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,747 a month. Choose Orlando if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Long Beach at $87,430 median income versus $72,336 in Orlando. Housing ($1,747 in Orlando, $1,871 in Long Beach) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
With only $124 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,747 in Orlando and $1,871 in Long Beach.
If local pay drives your move, Long Beach is the stronger match ($87,430 median income against $72,336). If an employer or family tie already points to Orlando, treat $1,747/month rent and $72,336 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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