City comparison
No. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 223 in Washington, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 243, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Long Beach is cheaper. Median rent is $1,871 a month versus $1,954 in Washington.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Washington and Long Beach. Washington averages 55°F while Long Beach averages 76°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,954 versus $1,871.
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. Washington 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Washington in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Washington and Long Beach are 2,298 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,954 a month in Washington to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, down $83 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $109,870 in Washington to $87,430 in Long Beach, down $22,440 (20%).
The crime index goes from 223 in Washington to 187 in Long Beach, down 36 points (16%).
The move
Long Beach and Washington are 2,298 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,954 a month in Washington, up $83 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $109,870 in Washington, up $22,440 (26%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 223 in Washington, up 36 points (19%).
Washington, DC
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 Washington and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Long Beach rent is 4% cheaper than Washington
Washington
$1,954/mo
Long Beach
Winner$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,871 a month in Long Beach versus $1,954 in Washington, so Long Beach is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $83, or $996 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
26% higher
Washington's median income is 26% higher than Long Beach
Washington
Winner$109,870
Long Beach
$87,430
Median household income is $109,870 in Washington versus $87,430 in Long Beach, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Washington (about $22,440 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, Washington 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
Long Beach's crime index is 16% lower than Washington
Washington
223 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 223 in Washington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 16% 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. Washington 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 Washington
Washington
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Long Beach
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Washington averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Washington 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 Washington 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
Washington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 26% higher here ($109,870). Start with Washington 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 4% 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 Washington on this page's weather index by 39%. Washington 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 16% lower than Washington (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
Washington (55°F) and Long Beach (76°F) are not interchangeable on climate — about 21°F apart on typical temperatures. Rent ($1,954 vs $1,871) and pay ($109,870 vs $87,430) still matter, yet most movers regret ignoring the forecast row.
Long Beach rent at $1,871/month is still below Washington's $1,954, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 36/100 in Washington and 41/100 in Long Beach.
Washington clears the bar on climate in this dataset. Long Beach deserves a serious look only when you would rather tolerate 76°F than optimize for Washington's comfort score.
Common questions
Ready to move to Long Beach?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Long Beach when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Washington and Long Beach, plus other cities in DC and CA.
