City comparison
Yes. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Virginia Beach is cheaper. Median rent is $1,714 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Safety is where Virginia Beach and Long Beach split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 125 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,871 in Long Beach.
Virginia Beach is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Long Beach makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Virginia Beach is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Virginia Beach has rougher pockets and Long Beach has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Virginia Beach and Long Beach are 2,370 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $157 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $87,430 in Long Beach, down $5,538 (6%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 187 in Long Beach, up 125 points (202%).
The move
Long Beach and Virginia Beach are 2,370 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, down $157 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $5,538 (6%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 125 points (67%).
Virginia Beach, VA
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 Virginia Beach and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Virginia Beach rent is 8% cheaper than Long Beach
Virginia Beach
Winner$1,714/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Virginia Beach is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $157, or $1,884 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 Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 6% higher than Long Beach
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Long Beach
$87,430
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $87,430 in Long Beach, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Virginia Beach (about $5,538 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
67% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 67% lower than Long Beach
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 67% lower in Virginia 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, Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach 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
Virginia Beach is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,714 a month. Choose Virginia Beach if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Virginia Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($92,968). Start with Virginia Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Virginia Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 67% lower than Long Beach (62 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
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 Virginia Beach on this page's weather index by 20%. Virginia Beach may pay more or cost less, but Long Beach is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Virginia Beach scores 75/100 versus 41/100 in Long Beach. Rent is $1,714/month in Virginia Beach and $1,871/month in Long Beach, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (75/100 in Virginia Beach vs 41/100 in Long Beach), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $87,430 in Long Beach.
Between Virginia Beach and Long Beach, Virginia Beach is ahead on safety — 75/100 safety versus 41/100. Lean Long Beach instead when you already know the Long Beach block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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