City comparison
No. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Nashville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,586 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Safety is where Nashville and Long Beach split most clearly. Long Beach scores 95 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,586 in Nashville 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. Nashville 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 crime gap is citywide. Long Beach has rougher pockets and Nashville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Nashville and Long Beach are 1,778 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $285 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $10,059 (13%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 187 in Long Beach, down 95 points (34%).
The move
Long Beach and Nashville are 1,778 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,586 a month in Nashville, down $285 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $77,371 in Nashville, down $10,059 (12%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 282 in Nashville, up 95 points (51%).
Nashville, 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 Nashville and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Nashville rent is 15% cheaper than Long Beach
Nashville
Winner$1,586/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,586 a month in Nashville versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Nashville is 15% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,420, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Nashville still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Long Beach.
Planning to buy in Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
13% higher
Long Beach's median income is 13% higher than Nashville
Nashville
$77,371
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $77,371 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Long Beach (about $10,059 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. Nashville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
34% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 34% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% 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. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 3% more comfortable than Nashville
Nashville
64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Long Beach scores 3% 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 Nashville 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 Nashville
Nashville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,586 a month. Choose Nashville 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 13% 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 34% lower than Nashville (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
Safety is the widest gap: Long Beach scores 41/100 versus 28/100 in Nashville. Rent is $1,871/month in Long Beach and $1,586/month in Nashville, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Long Beach still pays more locally ($87,430 median income vs $77,371), which can offset the lease if your field pays Long Beach rates.
Weather averages land near 64°F in Nashville and 76°F in Long Beach.
Between Nashville and Long Beach, Long Beach is ahead on safety — 41/100 safety versus 28/100. Lean Nashville instead when you already know the Nashville block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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