City comparison
Yes. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 326 in Wichita, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 353, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Wichita is cheaper. Median rent is $975 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The cost gap between Long Beach and Wichita is the real story here. Wichita comes in 48% cheaper on typical rent ($1,871 vs $975), which over a year adds up to $10,752. Median household income runs $87,430 in Long Beach and $64,620 in Wichita.
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. Wichita 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. Wichita at $975 average has pockets that run $775 and others at $1,375: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Long Beach and Wichita are 1,198 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $975 a month in Wichita, down $896 a month (48%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $64,620 in Wichita, down $22,810 (26%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 326 in Wichita, up 139 points (74%).
The move
Wichita and Long Beach are 1,198 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $975 a month in Wichita to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $896 a month (92%).
Median household income goes from $64,620 in Wichita to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $22,810 (35%).
The crime index goes from 326 in Wichita to 187 in Long Beach, down 139 points (43%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Wichita, KS
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Wichita? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
48% cheaper
Wichita rent is 48% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Wichita
Winner$975/mo
Typical rent runs $975 a month in Wichita versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Wichita is 48% cheaper. That's roughly $896/month back in your pocket ($10,752/year). Over five years that's $53,760 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, Wichita 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
35% higher
Long Beach's median income is 35% higher than Wichita
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Wichita
$64,620
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $64,620 in Wichita, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Long Beach (about $22,810 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. Wichita can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
43% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 43% lower than Wichita
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Wichita
326 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 326 in Wichita (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 43% 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. Wichita can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 12% more comfortable than Wichita
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Wichita
61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs); Wichita averages about 61°F (69°F highs). Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Wichita averages around 61°F. Long Beach scores 12% 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 Wichita 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.
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 43% lower than Wichita (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 Wichita
Wichita is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 48% cheaper here at about $975 a month. Choose Wichita if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $975/month in Wichita versus $1,871 in Long Beach. Median income reads $64,620 in Wichita and $87,430 in Long Beach, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Wichita rent at $975/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 $64,620 in Wichita.
If housing cost drives your move, Wichita is the stronger match ($975/month rent against $1,871). If an employer or family tie already points to Long Beach, treat $1,871/month rent and $87,430 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Long Beach?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Long Beach when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Long Beach and Wichita, plus other cities in CA and KS.
