City comparison
No. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Long Beach is cheaper. Median rent is $1,871 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
The income gap between Seattle and Long Beach is significant: $123,860 median household versus $87,430. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,030 in Seattle and $1,871 in Long Beach.
Long Beach is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Seattle makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Long Beach is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Long Beach has rougher pockets and Seattle has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Seattle and Long Beach are 980 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, down $159 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $87,430 in Long Beach, down $36,430 (29%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 187 in Long Beach, down 65 points (26%).
The move
Long Beach and Seattle are 980 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $159 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $123,860 in Seattle, up $36,430 (42%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 252 in Seattle, up 65 points (35%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Long Beach rent is 8% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
Long Beach
Winner$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,871 a month in Long Beach versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Long Beach is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $159, or $1,908 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 Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
42% higher
Seattle's median income is 42% higher than Long Beach
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Long Beach
$87,430
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $87,430 in Long Beach, so typical pay runs 42% higher in Seattle (about $36,430 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, Seattle 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
26% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 26% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% lower in Long Beach. 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, Long Beach is the easier city. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 39% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Seattle averages around 55°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 39% 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 Seattle if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 42% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Long Beach is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% 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.
Pick Long Beach if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (76°F) beat Seattle on this page's weather index by 39%. Seattle may pay more or cost less, but Long Beach is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Long Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 26% lower than Seattle (187 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.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,871/month rent in Long Beach at 76°F versus $2,030 in Seattle at 55°F. Income runs $87,430 vs $123,860, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Long Beach rent at $1,871/month is still below Seattle's $2,030, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 32/100 in Seattle and 41/100 in Long Beach.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Long Beach; Seattle only makes sense when 55°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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