City comparison
No. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The income gap between Memphis and Long Beach is significant: $51,736 median household versus $87,430. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,181 in Memphis and $1,871 in Long Beach.
This is a genuine split. Memphis wins on cost of living and Long Beach wins on the job market 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Memphis at $1,181 average has pockets that run $981 and others at $1,581: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Memphis and Long Beach are 1,601 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $690 a month (58%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $35,694 (69%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 187 in Long Beach, down 308 points (62%).
The move
Long Beach and Memphis are 1,601 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $690 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $51,736 in Memphis, down $35,694 (41%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 495 in Memphis, up 308 points (165%).
Memphis, TN
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 Memphis and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
37% cheaper
Memphis rent is 37% cheaper than Long Beach
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Memphis is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $690/month back in your pocket ($8,280/year). Over five years that's $41,400 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, Memphis 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
69% higher
Long Beach's median income is 69% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 69% higher in Long Beach (about $35,694 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. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
62% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 62% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% 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. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Memphis and Long Beach are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach
76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Long Beach sits near 76°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Memphis
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 37% cheaper here at about $1,181 a month. Choose Memphis 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 and professional growth
Long Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 69% higher here ($87,430). Start with Long Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 62% lower than Memphis (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
Memphis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (11/100 safety vs 41/100 in Long Beach). That 30-point spread matters more than the $690 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Long Beach still pays more locally ($87,430 median income vs $51,736), which can offset the lease if your field pays Long Beach rates.
Median income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $51,736 in Memphis.
Long Beach clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Memphis deserves a serious look only when you already know the Memphis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Long Beach, plus other cities in TN and CA.
