City comparison
No. Scottsdale's crime index is 79 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 48 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Long Beach is cheaper. Median rent is $1,871 a month versus $2,013 in Scottsdale.
Safety is where Long Beach and Scottsdale split most clearly. Scottsdale scores 108 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 $2,013 in Scottsdale.
This is a genuine split. Long Beach wins on cost of living and Scottsdale wins on the job market and safety. 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. Scottsdale has rougher pockets and Long Beach has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Long Beach and Scottsdale are 362 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $2,013 a month in Scottsdale, up $142 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $110,886 in Scottsdale, up $23,456 (27%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 79 in Scottsdale, down 108 points (58%).
The move
Scottsdale and Long Beach are 362 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,013 a month in Scottsdale to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, down $142 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $110,886 in Scottsdale to $87,430 in Long Beach, down $23,456 (21%).
The crime index goes from 79 in Scottsdale to 187 in Long Beach, up 108 points (137%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Scottsdale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Scottsdale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Long Beach rent is 7% cheaper than Scottsdale
Long Beach
Winner$1,871/mo
Scottsdale
$2,013/mo
Typical rent runs $1,871 a month in Long Beach versus $2,013 in Scottsdale, so Long Beach is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $142, or $1,704 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 Scottsdale? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
27% higher
Scottsdale's median income is 27% higher than Long Beach
Long Beach
$87,430
Scottsdale
Winner$110,886
Median household income is $110,886 in Scottsdale versus $87,430 in Long Beach, so typical pay runs 27% higher in Scottsdale (about $23,456 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, Scottsdale 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
58% lower crime
Scottsdale's crime index is 58% lower than Long Beach
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Scottsdale
Winner79 (100 = avg)
Scottsdale's crime index is 79 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 58% lower in Scottsdale. 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, Scottsdale 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
Neck and neck
Long Beach and Scottsdale are about even on typical weather.
Long Beach
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Scottsdale
74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Scottsdale averages about 74°F (80°F highs). Long Beach sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Scottsdale sits near 74°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Long Beach
Long Beach is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Scottsdale is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 27% higher here ($110,886). Start with Scottsdale if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Scottsdale is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 58% lower than Long Beach (79 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Scottsdale: Scottsdale scores 67/100 versus 41/100 in Long Beach, with typical rent at $2,013 versus $1,871. I would vet the exact ZIP in Long Beach before trading 26 safety points for housing savings.
Long Beach rent at $1,871/month is still below Scottsdale's $2,013, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,871 in Long Beach and $2,013 in Scottsdale.
Pick Scottsdale when you want the stronger safety signal (67/100). Otherwise, Long Beach's case rests on a Long Beach ZIP you trust at $1,871 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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