Is Portland cheaper than Long Beach?

Yes. Typical rent in Portland is $1,655 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach — 12% cheaper. Median household income is $90,919 in Portland compared with $87,430 in Long Beach, so Portland has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Portland or Long Beach?

Portland is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 111 versus 122 in Long Beach — 9% 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, Portland or Long Beach?

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

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City comparison

Portland, OR vs Long Beach, CA

Portland, OR 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 $1,655 a month in Portland and $1,871 in Long Beach, and median household income lands at $90,919 versus $87,430. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Portland takes affordability, job market, safety, and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Portland leads by 26% — 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 Portland can feel further apart than Portland and Long Beach do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Portland and Long Beach reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Portland report Full Long Beach report

Portland, OR

Rent: $1,655/mo
Median income: $90,919
Crime index: 111
Schools: A-
Weather: 71°F

Long Beach, CA

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

Rent

12% cheaper

Portland rent is 12% cheaper than Long Beach

Portland

Winner

$1,655/mo

Long Beach

$1,871/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,655 a month in Portland versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Portland is 12% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,592 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Portland still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Long Beach.

Median income

4% higher

Portland's median income is 4% higher than Long Beach

Portland

Winner

$90,919

Long Beach

$87,430

What this means for your life

Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $87,430 in Long Beach, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Portland — about $3,489 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

9% lower crime

Portland's crime index is 9% lower than Long Beach

Portland

Winner

111 (100 = avg)

Long Beach

122 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Portland's crime index is 111 versus 122 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 9% lower in Portland. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Portland, 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

Portland and Long Beach are about even on school scores.

Portland

A- · 84/100

Long Beach

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Portland, 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

26% more comfortable

Portland weather is 26% more comfortable than Long Beach

Portland

Winner

71°F typical

Long Beach

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Portland scores 26% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 71°F in Portland and 79°F in Long Beach. Portland reads as mild, livable temperatures; Long Beach reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Portland is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Long Beach can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Portland

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

Portland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,655 a month. Choose Portland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 4% higher ($90,919), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 71°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Portland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 9% lower than Long Beach (111 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 Portland report →

Fit check

Who should choose Long Beach

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

On these five categories Portland takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Long Beach because the stats are kinder — they are not. Choose Long Beach only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.

Open the Long Beach report →

Bottom line

Portland vs Long Beach, called

If weather is your priority, Portland is the clear choice.

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

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

Common questions

Portland vs Long Beach FAQ

Is Portland cheaper than Long Beach?: Yes. Typical rent in Portland is $1,655 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach — 12% cheaper. Median household income is $90,919 in Portland compared with $87,430 in Long Beach, so Portland has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Portland or Long Beach?: Portland is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 111 versus 122 in Long Beach — 9% 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, Portland or Long Beach?: School composites are close: A- in Portland and A- in Long Beach. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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