City comparison
New York is safer than Long Beach. New York's crime index is 169 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 195 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
New York is cheaper. Median rent is $1,821 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
New York and Long Beach are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,821 in New York and $1,871 in Long Beach, and median household income lands at $80,483 versus $87,430. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New York costs less and Long Beach pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
New York and Long Beach are 2,451 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,821 a month in New York to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $50 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $80,483 in New York to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $6,947 (9%).
The crime index goes from 169 in New York to 187 in Long Beach, up 18 points (11%).
The move
Long Beach and New York are 2,451 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,821 a month in New York, down $50 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $80,483 in New York, down $6,947 (8%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 169 in New York, down 18 points (10%).
New York, NY
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 New York and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
New York rent is 3% cheaper than Long Beach
New York
Winner$1,821/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,821 a month in New York versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so New York is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $50, or $600 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in New York? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Long Beach's median income is 9% higher than New York
New York
$80,483
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $80,483 in New York, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Long Beach (about $6,947 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
10% lower crime
New York's crime index is 10% lower than Long Beach
New York
Winner169 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
New York's crime index is 169 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 10% lower in New York. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in New York, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Long Beach. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 25% more comfortable than New York
New York
58°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 80/100
Long Beach
Winner75°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
New York averages about 58°F (65°F highs); Long Beach averages about 75°F (81°F highs). New York averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Long Beach sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Long Beach scores 25% 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 New York if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
New York is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,821 a month. Choose New York if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
New York is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 10% lower than Long Beach (169 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
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 9% higher ($87,430), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 75°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
New York (58°F) and Long Beach (75°F) are not interchangeable on climate — about 17°F apart on typical temperatures. Rent ($1,821 vs $1,871) and pay ($80,483 vs $87,430) still matter, yet most movers regret ignoring the forecast row.
New York rent at $1,821/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 $80,483 in New York.
If climate drives your move, New York is the stronger match (58°F typical weather versus 75°F). If an employer or family tie already points to Long Beach, treat $1,871/month rent and $87,430 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to New York?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for New York when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New York and Long Beach, plus other cities in NY and CA.
