Is Memphis cheaper than Long Beach?

Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,181 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach — 37% cheaper. Median household income is $51,736 in Memphis compared with $87,430 in Long Beach, so Long Beach has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Memphis or Long Beach?

Long Beach is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 122 versus 140 in Memphis — 13% 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, Memphis or Long Beach?

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

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City comparison

Memphis, TN vs Long Beach, CA

Memphis, TN versus Long Beach, CA 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 $1,181 a month in Memphis and $1,871 in Long Beach, and median household income lands at $51,736 versus $87,430. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Memphis takes affordability, while Long Beach takes job market, safety, and weather. The widest gap is median income, where Long Beach leads by 69% — 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 Memphis can feel further apart than Memphis and Long Beach do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Memphis and Long Beach reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Memphis report Full Long Beach report

Memphis, TN

Rent: $1,181/mo
Median income: $51,736
Crime index: 140
Schools: A-
Weather: 80°F

Long Beach, CA

Rent: $1,871/mo
Median income: $87,430
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Rent

37% cheaper

Memphis rent is 37% cheaper than Long Beach

Memphis

Winner

$1,181/mo

Long Beach

$1,871/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Memphis is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $690/month back in your pocket — $8,280/year. Over five years that's $41,400 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, Memphis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

69% higher

Long Beach's median income is 69% higher than Memphis

Memphis

$51,736

Long Beach

Winner

$87,430

What this means for your life

Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 69% higher in Long Beach — about $35,694 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. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

13% lower crime

Long Beach's crime index is 13% lower than Memphis

Memphis

140 (100 = avg)

Long Beach

Winner

122 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Long Beach's crime index is 122 versus 140 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 13% lower in Long Beach. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Long Beach, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Memphis. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Memphis and Long Beach are about even on school scores.

Memphis

A- · 84/100

Long Beach

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Memphis, A- in Long Beach). 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

4% more comfortable

Long Beach weather is 4% more comfortable than Memphis

Memphis

80°F typical

Long Beach

Winner

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Long Beach scores 4% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 80°F in Memphis and 79°F in Long Beach. Memphis reads as warm weather most of the year; Long Beach reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Memphis'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 Memphis

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Memphis

Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 37% cheaper here at about $1,181 a month. Choose Memphis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Open the Memphis report →

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 69% higher ($87,430), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 79°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

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 13% lower than Memphis (122 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 Long Beach report →

Bottom line

Memphis vs Long Beach, called

If the job market is your priority, Long Beach is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Memphis pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Memphis vs Long Beach FAQ

Is Memphis cheaper than Long Beach?: Yes. Typical rent in Memphis is $1,181 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach — 37% cheaper. Median household income is $51,736 in Memphis compared with $87,430 in Long Beach, so Long Beach has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Memphis or Long Beach?: Long Beach is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 122 versus 140 in Memphis — 13% 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, Memphis or Long Beach?: School composites are close: A- in Memphis and A- in Long Beach. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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