City comparison
Yes. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 233 in Stockton, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Stockton is cheaper. Median rent is $1,577 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Long Beach and Stockton are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,871 in Long Beach and $1,577 in Stockton, and median household income lands at $87,430 versus $79,907. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. Long Beach wins on the job market and safety and Stockton 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Stockton at $1,577 average has pockets that run $1,377 and others at $1,977: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Long Beach and Stockton are 338 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,577 a month in Stockton, down $294 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $79,907 in Stockton, down $7,523 (9%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 233 in Stockton, up 46 points (25%).
The move
Stockton and Long Beach are 338 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $294 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $7,523 (9%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 187 in Long Beach, down 46 points (20%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Stockton, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Stockton rent is 16% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Stockton
Winner$1,577/mo
Typical rent runs $1,577 a month in Stockton versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Stockton is 16% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,528, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Stockton still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Long Beach.
Planning to buy in Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Long Beach's median income is 9% higher than Stockton
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Stockton
$79,907
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $79,907 in Stockton, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Long Beach (about $7,523 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
20% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 20% lower than Stockton
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Stockton
233 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 233 in Stockton (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% 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. Stockton 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 Stockton are about even on typical weather.
Long Beach
76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Stockton
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs); Stockton averages about 71°F (83°F highs). Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Stockton 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 9% 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 20% lower than Stockton (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 Stockton
Stockton is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,577 a month. Choose Stockton if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Stockton at $1,577/month versus $1,871 in Long Beach ($294 apart). Long Beach median income is $87,430 against $79,907 in Stockton, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Stockton rent at $1,577/month is still below Long Beach's $1,871, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $79,907 in Stockton.
Stockton clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Long Beach deserves a serious look only when your $87,430 income offer in Long Beach outweighs saving $294/month in Stockton.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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