What it's like to live in Long Beach
Long Beach is a small city in New York with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Long Beach deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, long average commutes, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Long commutes
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
How Long Beach compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Long Beach
Based on Long Beach's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$5,030
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $100,600 a year
- 53% of Long Beach renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$139,280
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $69,640
- Homes cost 4.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 78% above US
$2,515/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,515 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $696,400. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $696,400 · 53% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 30% below US
3.0% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.0%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 78% below US
78 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 104/100k · Long Beach Police Department · 2024 data
Getting around▲ 59% above US
41 min average commute
Commutes run long, averaging 41.3 minutes, and that's just the average, meaning a lot of people are doing significantly more. This isn't a city where living far from the office is a comfortable bet. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 15% take public transit; 19% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 28°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 55% above US
56% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Gateway National Recreation Area (13 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Long Beach's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,515/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (19% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Long Beach
All New York guides →Moving to Oceanside →
4 mi away · pop. 31,639
Rent $2,227/mo · Income $149,560
Compare with Long Beach →Moving to East Rockaway →
4 mi away · pop. 10,077
Rent $2,416/mo · Income $124,929
Compare with Long Beach →Moving to Woodmere →
4 mi away · pop. 18,061
Rent $2,720/mo · Income $172,537
Compare with Long Beach →Not sure Long Beach is the one?
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