City comparison
Yes. Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 102 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Omaha is cheaper. Median rent is $1,187 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The cost gap between Omaha and Long Beach is the real story here. Omaha comes in 37% cheaper on typical rent ($1,187 vs $1,871), which over a year adds up to $8,208. Median household income runs $73,201 in Omaha and $87,430 in Long Beach.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Omaha 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.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Omaha at $1,187 average has pockets that run $987 and others at $1,587: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Omaha and Long Beach are 1,320 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $684 a month (58%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $14,229 (19%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 187 in Long Beach, up 46 points (33%).
The move
Long Beach and Omaha are 1,320 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,187 a month in Omaha, down $684 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $73,201 in Omaha, down $14,229 (16%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 141 in Omaha, down 46 points (25%).
Omaha, NE
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 Omaha and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
37% cheaper
Omaha rent is 37% cheaper than Long Beach
Omaha
Winner$1,187/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,187 a month in Omaha versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Omaha is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $684/month back in your pocket ($8,208/year). Over five years that's $41,040 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, Omaha is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
19% higher
Long Beach's median income is 19% higher than Omaha
Omaha
$73,201
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $73,201 in Omaha, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Long Beach (about $14,229 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. Omaha can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
25% lower crime
Omaha's crime index is 25% lower than Long Beach
Omaha
Winner141 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% lower in Omaha. 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, Omaha is the easier city. Long Beach can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 20% more comfortable than Omaha
Omaha
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Omaha averages around 59°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 20% 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 Omaha 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
Omaha is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 37% cheaper here at about $1,187 a month. Choose Omaha if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Omaha is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 25% lower than Long Beach (141 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 19% 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.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Omaha at $1,187/month versus $1,871 in Long Beach ($684 apart). Long Beach median income is $87,430 against $73,201 in Omaha, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Safety still diverges (50/100 in Omaha vs 41/100 in Long Beach), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Omaha and 76°F in Long Beach.
If housing cost drives your move, Omaha is the stronger match ($1,187/month rent against $1,871). 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
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Omaha and Long Beach, plus other cities in NE and CA.
