City comparison
Yes. Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 213 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Sacramento is cheaper. Median rent is $1,779 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Sacramento 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 $1,779 in Sacramento and $1,871 in Long Beach, and median household income lands at $87,321 versus $87,430. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. Sacramento wins on cost of living and safety and Long Beach wins on the job market. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
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
Sacramento and Long Beach are 380 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $92 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $109 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 187 in Long Beach, up 6 points (3%).
The move
Long Beach and Sacramento are 380 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, down $92 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $87,321 in Sacramento, down $109 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 181 in Sacramento, down 6 points (3%).
Sacramento, CA
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 Sacramento and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Sacramento rent is 5% cheaper than Long Beach
Sacramento
Winner$1,779/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,779 a month in Sacramento versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Sacramento is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $92, or $1,104 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 Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Long Beach's median income is 1% higher than Sacramento
Sacramento
$87,321
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $87,321 in Sacramento, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Long Beach (about $109 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
3% lower crime
Sacramento's crime index is 3% lower than Long Beach
Sacramento
Winner181 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 3% lower in Sacramento. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Sacramento, 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
Neck and neck
Sacramento and Long Beach are about even on typical weather.
Sacramento
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach
76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Sacramento averages about 71°F (83°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Sacramento sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Long Beach sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Sacramento is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,779 a month. Choose Sacramento if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Sacramento is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 3% lower than Long Beach (181 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 and professional growth
Long Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($87,430). Start with Long Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Long Beach carries the heavier crime signal on this page (41/100 safety vs 42/100 in Sacramento). That 1-point spread matters more than the $92 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
With only $92 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $87,321 in Sacramento.
If safety drives your move, Sacramento is the stronger match (42/100 safety versus 41/100). 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 Sacramento?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Sacramento when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Sacramento and Long Beach, plus other cities in CA.
