City comparison
Yes. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The income gap between Long Beach and Winston Salem is significant: $87,430 median household versus $59,268. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,871 in Long Beach and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
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. Winston Salem 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. Winston Salem at $1,087 average has pockets that run $887 and others at $1,487: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Long Beach and Winston Salem are 2,142 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $784 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $28,162 (32%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 203 in Winston Salem, up 16 points (9%).
The move
Winston Salem and Long Beach are 2,142 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $784 a month (72%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $28,162 (48%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 187 in Long Beach, down 16 points (8%).
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Winston Salem, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Long Beach and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
42% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 42% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Winston Salem is 42% cheaper. That's roughly $784/month back in your pocket ($9,408/year). Over five years that's $47,040 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, Winston Salem 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
48% higher
Long Beach's median income is 48% higher than Winston Salem
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 48% higher in Long Beach (about $28,162 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. Winston Salem can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
8% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 8% lower than Winston Salem
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 8% 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 Winston Salem. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 33% more comfortable than Winston Salem
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Winston Salem averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach scores 33% 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 Winston Salem 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 48% 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 8% lower than Winston Salem (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 Winston Salem
Winston Salem is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 42% cheaper here at about $1,087 a month. Choose Winston Salem if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
On rent alone, Winston Salem undercuts Long Beach by $784/month ($1,087 vs $1,871). I would not pick Long Beach on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Winston Salem rent at $1,087/month is still below Long Beach's $1,871, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 76°F in Long Beach and 56°F in Winston Salem.
Between Long Beach and Winston Salem, Winston Salem is ahead on housing cost — $1,087/month rent against $1,871. Lean Long Beach instead when your $87,430 income offer in Long Beach outweighs saving $784/month in Winston Salem.
Common questions
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