City comparison
No. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tampa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,701 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Safety is where Long Beach and Tampa split most clearly. Tampa scores 94 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 $1,701 in Tampa.
This is a genuine split. Long Beach wins on the job market and Tampa wins on cost of living 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. Tampa has rougher pockets and Long Beach has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Long Beach and Tampa are 2,146 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,701 a month in Tampa, down $170 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $75,475 in Tampa, down $11,955 (14%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 93 in Tampa, down 94 points (50%).
The move
Tampa and Long Beach are 2,146 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $170 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $11,955 (16%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 187 in Long Beach, up 94 points (101%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Tampa, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Tampa rent is 9% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Tampa
Winner$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,701 a month in Tampa versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Tampa is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $170, or $2,040 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 Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Long Beach's median income is 16% higher than Tampa
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Tampa
$75,475
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $75,475 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Long Beach (about $11,955 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. Tampa can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
50% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 50% lower than Long Beach
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 50% lower in Tampa. 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, Tampa 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 Tampa are about even on typical weather.
Long Beach
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tampa
70°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Tampa averages about 70°F (77°F highs). Long Beach sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tampa sits near 70°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 16% higher here ($87,430). Start with Long Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Tampa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% cheaper here at about $1,701 a month. Choose Tampa if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 50% lower than Long Beach (93 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 Tampa: Tampa scores 62/100 versus 41/100 in Long Beach, with typical rent at $1,701 versus $1,871. I would vet the exact ZIP in Long Beach before trading 21 safety points for housing savings.
Tampa rent at $1,701/month is still below Long Beach's $1,871, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,701 in Tampa and $1,871 in Long Beach.
Tampa clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Long Beach deserves a serious look only when you already know the Long Beach block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Tampa when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Long Beach and Tampa, plus other cities in CA and FL.
