City comparison
No. Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Richmond is cheaper. Median rent is $1,372 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The income gap between Long Beach and Richmond is significant: $87,430 median household versus $64,587. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,871 in Long Beach and $1,372 in Richmond.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Richmond 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. Richmond at $1,372 average has pockets that run $1,172 and others at $1,772: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Long Beach and Richmond are 2,284 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,372 a month in Richmond, down $499 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $64,587 in Richmond, down $22,843 (26%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 169 in Richmond, down 18 points (10%).
The move
Richmond and Long Beach are 2,284 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $499 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $22,843 (35%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 187 in Long Beach, up 18 points (11%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
Richmond rent is 27% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Richmond
Winner$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,372 a month in Richmond versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Richmond is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $499/month back in your pocket ($5,988/year). Over five years that's $29,940 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, Richmond is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
35% higher
Long Beach's median income is 35% higher than Richmond
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Richmond
$64,587
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Long Beach (about $22,843 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. Richmond can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
10% lower crime
Richmond's crime index is 10% lower than Long Beach
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Richmond
Winner169 (100 = avg)
Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 10% lower in Richmond. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Richmond, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Long Beach. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 28% more comfortable than Richmond
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Richmond
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach scores 28% 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 Richmond 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 35% higher ($87,430), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°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
Richmond is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 27% cheaper here at about $1,372 a month. Choose Richmond if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Richmond is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 10% lower than Long Beach (169 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
Pay is the headline: Long Beach median income is $87,430 versus $64,587 in Richmond (26% higher). Rent still runs $1,871/month in Long Beach and $1,372/month in Richmond, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Long Beach rates.
Long Beach still pays more locally ($87,430 median income vs $64,587), which can offset the lease if your field pays Long Beach rates.
Weather averages land near 76°F in Long Beach and 57°F in Richmond.
If local pay drives your move, Long Beach is the stronger match ($87,430 median income against $64,587). If an employer or family tie already points to Richmond, treat $1,372/month rent and $64,587 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Richmond?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Richmond when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Long Beach and Richmond, plus other cities in CA and VA.
