City comparison
No. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 209 in Louisville, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Louisville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,120 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The cost gap between Louisville and Long Beach is the real story here. Louisville comes in 40% cheaper on typical rent ($1,120 vs $1,871), which over a year adds up to $9,012. Median household income runs $66,849 in Louisville and $87,430 in Long Beach.
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. Louisville 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. Louisville at $1,120 average has pockets that run $920 and others at $1,520: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Louisville and Long Beach are 1,829 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,120 a month in Louisville to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $751 a month (67%).
Median household income goes from $66,849 in Louisville to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $20,581 (31%).
The crime index goes from 209 in Louisville to 187 in Long Beach, down 22 points (11%).
The move
Long Beach and Louisville are 1,829 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,120 a month in Louisville, down $751 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $66,849 in Louisville, down $20,581 (24%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 209 in Louisville, up 22 points (12%).
Louisville, KY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Louisville and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
40% cheaper
Louisville rent is 40% cheaper than Long Beach
Louisville
Winner$1,120/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,120 a month in Louisville versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Louisville is 40% cheaper. That's roughly $751/month back in your pocket ($9,012/year). Over five years that's $45,060 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, Louisville 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
31% higher
Long Beach's median income is 31% higher than Louisville
Louisville
$66,849
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $66,849 in Louisville, so typical pay runs 31% higher in Long Beach (about $20,581 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. Louisville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
11% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 11% lower than Louisville
Louisville
209 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 209 in Louisville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% 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 Louisville. 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 Louisville
Louisville
56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Louisville averages about 56°F (65°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Louisville averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. 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 Louisville if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Louisville
Louisville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 40% cheaper here at about $1,120 a month. Choose Louisville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
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 31% 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 11% lower than Louisville (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.
Bottom line
On rent alone, Louisville undercuts Long Beach by $751/month ($1,120 vs $1,871). I would not pick Long Beach on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Louisville rent at $1,120/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 $66,849 in Louisville.
Between Louisville and Long Beach, Louisville is ahead on housing cost — $1,120/month rent against $1,871. Lean Long Beach instead when your $87,430 income offer in Long Beach outweighs saving $751/month in Louisville.
Common questions
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