City comparison
Yes. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 221 in Toledo, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 279, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Long Beach and Toledo. Long Beach averages 76°F while Toledo averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,871 versus $934.
Long Beach is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Toledo makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Long Beach is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Long Beach and Toledo are 1,955 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $934 a month in Toledo, down $937 a month (50%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $62,224 in Toledo, down $25,206 (29%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 221 in Toledo, up 34 points (18%).
The move
Toledo and Long Beach are 1,955 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $937 a month (100%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $25,206 (41%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 187 in Long Beach, down 34 points (15%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
50% cheaper
Toledo rent is 50% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Toledo is 50% cheaper. That's roughly $937/month back in your pocket ($11,244/year). Over five years that's $56,220 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, Toledo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
41% higher
Long Beach's median income is 41% higher than Toledo
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 41% higher in Long Beach (about $25,206 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. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
15% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 15% lower than Toledo
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Toledo
221 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 221 in Toledo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% lower in Long Beach. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Long Beach, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Toledo. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 64% more comfortable than Toledo
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach scores 64% 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 Toledo 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 41% 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.
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 15% lower than Toledo (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 Toledo
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 50% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Long Beach runs $1,871/month while Toledo sits at $934 — roughly 50% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Long Beach-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Toledo rent at $934/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 $62,224 in Toledo.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in Toledo; Long Beach only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Long Beach at $87,430 income.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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