Is Long Beach cheaper than Wichita?

No. Wichita is cheaper: typical rent is $1,099 a month versus $2,903 in Long Beach — 62% lower. Median household income is $78,995 in Long Beach compared with $60,712 in Wichita, so Long Beach has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Long Beach or Wichita?

Wichita is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 115 versus 122 in Long Beach — 6% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Long Beach or Wichita?

School composites are close: A- in Long Beach and A- in Wichita. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Long Beach, CA vs Wichita, KS

Long Beach, CA versus Wichita, KS is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $2,903 a month in Long Beach and $1,099 in Wichita, and median household income lands at $78,995 versus $60,712. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Long Beach takes job market and weather, while Wichita takes affordability and safety. The widest gap is rent, where Wichita leads by 62% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Long Beach can feel further apart than Long Beach and Wichita do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Long Beach and Wichita reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Long Beach report Full Wichita report

Long Beach, CA

Rent: $2,903/mo
Median income: $78,995
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Wichita, KS

Rent: $1,099/mo
Median income: $60,712
Crime index: 115
Schools: A-
Weather: 85°F

Rent

62% cheaper

Wichita rent is 62% cheaper than Long Beach

Long Beach

$2,903/mo

Wichita

Winner

$1,099/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,099 a month in Wichita versus $2,903 in Long Beach, so Wichita is 62% cheaper. That's roughly $1,804/month back in your pocket — $21,648/year. Over five years that's $108,240 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 Long Beach, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Wichita is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

30% higher

Long Beach's median income is 30% higher than Wichita

Long Beach

Winner

$78,995

Wichita

$60,712

What this means for your life

Median household income is $78,995 in Long Beach versus $60,712 in Wichita, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Long Beach — about $18,283 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, Long Beach is the stronger labor market on paper. Wichita can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

6% lower crime

Wichita's crime index is 6% lower than Long Beach

Long Beach

122 (100 = avg)

Wichita

Winner

115 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Wichita's crime index is 115 versus 122 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 6% lower in Wichita. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Wichita, 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.

School scores

Neck and neck

Long Beach and Wichita are about even on school scores.

Long Beach

A- · 84/100

Wichita

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Long Beach, A- in Wichita). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

11% more comfortable

Long Beach weather is 11% more comfortable than Wichita

Long Beach

Winner

82°F typical

Wichita

85°F typical

What this means for your life

Long Beach scores 11% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 82°F in Long Beach and 85°F in Wichita. Long Beach reads as hot, long summers; Wichita reads as hot, long summers. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Wichita's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Long Beach is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Long Beach

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 30% higher ($78,995), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 82°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Long Beach report →

Fit check

Who should choose Wichita

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Wichita is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 62% cheaper here at about $1,099 a month. Choose Wichita if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Wichita is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 6% lower than Long Beach (115 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.

Open the Wichita report →

Bottom line

Long Beach vs Wichita, called

If cost of living is your priority, Wichita is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Long Beach pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Wichita offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Long Beach vs Wichita FAQ

Is Long Beach cheaper than Wichita?: No. Wichita is cheaper: typical rent is $1,099 a month versus $2,903 in Long Beach — 62% lower. Median household income is $78,995 in Long Beach compared with $60,712 in Wichita, so Long Beach has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Long Beach or Wichita?: Wichita is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 115 versus 122 in Long Beach — 6% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Long Beach or Wichita?: School composites are close: A- in Long Beach and A- in Wichita. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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