City comparison
Yes. San Jose's crime index is 157 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 161 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Long Beach is cheaper. Median rent is $1,871 a month versus $2,669 in San Jose.
The income gap between San Jose and Long Beach is significant: $146,427 median household versus $87,430. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,669 in San Jose and $1,871 in Long Beach.
This is a genuine split. San Jose wins on the job market and safety and Long Beach wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Long Beach at $1,871 average has pockets that run $1,671 and others at $2,271: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Jose and Long Beach are 323 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,669 a month in San Jose to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, down $798 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $146,427 in San Jose to $87,430 in Long Beach, down $58,997 (40%).
The crime index goes from 157 in San Jose to 187 in Long Beach, up 30 points (19%).
The move
Long Beach and San Jose are 323 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $2,669 a month in San Jose, up $798 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $146,427 in San Jose, up $58,997 (67%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 157 in San Jose, down 30 points (16%).
San Jose, 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 San Jose and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Long Beach rent is 30% cheaper than San Jose
San Jose
$2,669/mo
Long Beach
Winner$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,871 a month in Long Beach versus $2,669 in San Jose, so Long Beach is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $798/month back in your pocket ($9,576/year). Over five years that's $47,880 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 San Jose, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Long Beach is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in San Jose? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
67% higher
San Jose's median income is 67% higher than Long Beach
San Jose
Winner$146,427
Long Beach
$87,430
Median household income is $146,427 in San Jose versus $87,430 in Long Beach, so typical pay runs 67% higher in San Jose (about $58,997 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, San Jose is the stronger labor market on paper. Long Beach can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
16% lower crime
San Jose's crime index is 16% lower than Long Beach
San Jose
Winner157 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
San Jose's crime index is 157 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 16% lower in San Jose. 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, San Jose 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
Neck and neck
San Jose and Long Beach are about even on typical weather.
San Jose
66°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach
76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Jose averages about 66°F (76°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). San Jose sits near 66°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
San Jose is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 67% higher here ($146,427). Start with San Jose if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
San Jose is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 16% lower than Long Beach (157 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Long Beach
Long Beach is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 30% cheaper here at about $1,871 a month. Choose Long Beach if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
San Jose posts $146,427 median household income against $87,430 in Long Beach. That 40% pay gap is the story when rents are $1,871 in Long Beach and $2,669 in San Jose.
San Jose still pays more locally ($146,427 median income vs $87,430), which can offset the lease if your field pays San Jose rates.
Safety scores read 46/100 in San Jose and 41/100 in Long Beach.
San Jose leads on local pay ($146,427 median income vs $87,430), even though rent runs $2,669 versus $1,871 — skip San Jose only if you are optimizing for the cheaper lease, not the paycheck.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Jose and Long Beach, plus other cities in CA.
