City comparison
Yes. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Safety is where Raleigh and Long Beach split most clearly. Raleigh scores 45 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,871 in Long Beach.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Raleigh 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. Raleigh at $1,572 average has pockets that run $1,372 and others at $1,972: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Raleigh and Long Beach are 2,234 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $299 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $2,035 (2%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 187 in Long Beach, up 45 points (32%).
The move
Long Beach and Raleigh are 2,234 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $299 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $85,395 in Raleigh, down $2,035 (2%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 142 in Raleigh, down 45 points (24%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 16% cheaper than Long Beach
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Raleigh is 16% 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 $3,588, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Raleigh 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 Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Long Beach's median income is 2% higher than Raleigh
Raleigh
$85,395
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $85,395 in Raleigh, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Long Beach (about $2,035 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
24% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 24% lower than Long Beach
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 24% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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
16% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Long Beach
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Long Beach sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Long Beach scores 16% 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 Raleigh 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
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 24% lower than Long Beach (142 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 2% higher ($87,430), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Raleigh at $1,572/month versus $1,871 in Long Beach ($299 apart). Long Beach median income is $87,430 against $85,395 in Raleigh, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Safety still diverges (49/100 in Raleigh vs 41/100 in Long Beach), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Raleigh and 71°F in Long Beach.
If housing cost drives your move, Raleigh is the stronger match ($1,572/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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Next steps
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Nearby research
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