City comparison
No. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The income gap between Milwaukee and Long Beach is significant: $54,234 median household versus $87,430. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,059 in Milwaukee and $1,871 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. Milwaukee 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. Milwaukee at $1,059 average has pockets that run $859 and others at $1,459: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Milwaukee and Long Beach are 1,749 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $812 a month (77%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $33,196 (61%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 187 in Long Beach, down 79 points (30%).
The move
Long Beach and Milwaukee are 1,749 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $812 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $33,196 (38%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 266 in Milwaukee, up 79 points (42%).
Milwaukee, WI
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 Milwaukee and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
43% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 43% cheaper than Long Beach
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Milwaukee is 43% cheaper. That's roughly $812/month back in your pocket ($9,744/year). Over five years that's $48,720 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, Milwaukee 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
61% higher
Long Beach's median income is 61% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 61% higher in Long Beach (about $33,196 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. Milwaukee can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
30% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 30% lower than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% 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. Milwaukee can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 39% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 55°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 39% 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 Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee
Milwaukee is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 43% cheaper here at about $1,059 a month. Choose Milwaukee 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 61% 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 30% lower than Milwaukee (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
Long Beach runs $1,871/month while Milwaukee sits at $1,059 — roughly 43% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Long Beach-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Milwaukee rent at $1,059/month is still below Long Beach's $1,871, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Milwaukee and 76°F in Long Beach.
Milwaukee is the default on housing cost at $1,059/month versus $1,871 in Long Beach; Long Beach stays in play when $87,430 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $812 lease gap.
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 Milwaukee and Long Beach, plus other cities in WI and CA.
