Are you thinking about moving to Long Beach, California? This blog post will provide all the details about Long Beach, CA. So, discover everything you need to know!
The Coastal gem Long Beach, CA, is a city in Southern California known for its urban vibe and beachside small-town feel. Native Americans inhabited the area as early as the 1500s. Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo dubbed it the “Bay of the Smokes” in the late 1700s. The expanding population incorporated the area and changed its name to the City of Long Beach.
The city now offers a luxurious lifestyle, beaches and marinas, a restaurant and retail scene, and plenty of activities to enjoy. It’s close to Hollywood, making it ideal for recreation enthusiasts looking to settle down.
Long Beach, California, has so much to offer that this blog post could go on, but let’s just enjoy the city’s sunshine without giving anything away!
Things to know before moving to Long Beach, CA.
Where is Long Beach, CA located?
Long Beach, CA, is in Southern California, in the southern part of Los Angeles County. It is approximately 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles and about 105 miles north of San Diego.
What is the population of Long Beach, CA
Home to about 439,153 residents since the 2020 census, check out the following snapshot of the population of Long Beach, CA.
- Long Beach’s population has dropped 5.51% since the 2020 census, which reported a population of 464,759.
- The median age in Long Beach, CA, is 35.3 years.
- The male-female ratio in Long Beach, CA, is 49.24% of males and 50.76% of females.
- The poverty rate in Long Beach, CA, is 15.45%
How diverse is Long Beach, CA?
Long Beach, CA, is known for its diverse population and mix of ethnicities and cultures. The city’s demographics are as follows:
- Hispanic: 44%
- White: 28%
- Asian: 13%
- African American: 12%
- Two or more races: 3%
- Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: 1%
Is Moving to Long Beach, CA safe?
Long Beach has a relatively higher rate of both violent and property crime than the U.S. average, with a violent crime rate of 33.4 and a property crime rate of 41.2, respectively.
- The 2021 crime rate in Long Beach is 35 per 1,000 residents.
- The chance of being a victim of violent crime is 1 in 199.
- The chance of being a victim of property crime is 1 in 33.
- The most prevalent crime rate in Long Beach, CA, is assault, with a rate of 290.5, followed by robbery with a rate of 155.8, and rape with a rate of 52.3.
- If you are moving to Long Beach, CA, alone, Long Beach is generally considered a safe place to walk around at night.
| Crime type | Long Beach | California | US |
| Violent crime | 33.4 | 25.2 | 22.7 |
| Property crime | 41.2 | 37.1 | 34 |
The safe neighborhoods in Long Beach, CA are:
- City of Signal Hill
- The Plaza
- Belmont Heights
- Belmont Shore
- Bixby Knolls
- El Dorado Park
- Lakewood Village
- Los Altos
- Los Cerritos
Is it expensive to live in Long Beach, CA?
Long Beach has a Cost of Living Index of 161.7, 61.7% higher than the national average and 7.9% lower than the state average. Therefore, it is essential to be aware of the high cost of living before moving to Long Beach, California.
- The typical home is $739,900, 118.8% more expensive than the national average.
- The Long Beach, CA’s average cost of living is $2,643, ranking in the top 3% globally. The Median after-tax salary covers living expenses for 2.2 months.
- Prices for groceries, housing, and transportation are above the national average.
- The recommended salary is at least $63,880 annually for a comfortable living in Long Beach.
- Following the 30% rule for rent, with a median household income of $66,410 per year and an annual salary of around $58,360 for a one-bedroom apartment costing $1,459.
- A minimum annual income of $141,840 for a family and $70,400 for a single person is necessary for comfortable living in Long Beach.
Here is a table comparing the cost of living in Long Beach, CA, with other cities in California:
| City | Cost of Living Index | Housing Index | Groceries Index | Utilities Index | Transportation Index |
| Long Beach, CA | 161.7 | 238.8 | 110.8 | 109.3 | 128.0 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 174.1 | 269.8 | 104.2 | 93.5 | 138.3 |
| San Francisco, CA | 269.0 | 498.3 | 121.8 | 89.1 | 114.9 |
| San Diego, CA | 166.7 | 308.3 | 106.8 | 101.6 | 122.1 |
| Sacramento, CA | 134.3 | 227.6 | 111.2 | 96.3 | 113.3 |
Here’s a table of the cost of living index of Long Beach in comparison with state and national averages.
| COST OF LIVING | Long Beach | California | USA |
| Overall | 161.7 | 149.9 | 100 |
| Grocery | 101.9 | 105.1 | 100 |
| Health | 86.7 | 98.3 | 100 |
| Housing | 254 | 234.8 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97.1 | 102.4 | 100 |
| Transportation | 157.9 | 133.1 | 100 |
| Miscellaneous | 133.4 | 118.7 | 100 |
How’s the job market in Long Beach
Long Beach has an active but stagnant job market with a slow % growth rate of 0.7% over the past year. Therefore, securing employment is advisable before moving to Long Beach, CA.
Check out Long Beach, CA’s job market and salary structure scenario.
- The average annual salary in Long Beach, CA, is approximately $60,895, with the potential for wages reaching as high as $81,000.
- The reported median household income in Long Beach stands at $71,150.
- In terms of unemployment rate in Long Beach is approximately 5.2%.
- The predicted job growth in Long Beach over the next ten years is expected to be 32.5%, slightly lower than the US average of 33.5%.
- Long Beach employs over 15,000 job positions every year in the healthcare industry.
The top employers in Long Beach, CA, are:
- Long Beach Unified School District
- Boeing Co.
- Cal State Long Beach
- City of Long Beach
- Long Beach Memorial Medical Center
- Verizon
- Aquarium of the Pacific
- Frontier Communications
- Long Beach City College
- Port of Long Beach.
The most common jobs in Long Beach, CA are:
- Cashier
- Customer Service Representative
- Internship
- Volunteer
- Sales Associate
- Administrative Assistant
- Medical Assistant
- Office Assistant
- Receptionist
- Server
The highest-paying jobs in Long Beach, CA:
- Associate Director
- Director of Sales, Private Events
- Veterinarian
- Pilot (First Officer)
- Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)
- Pediatric Occupational Therapist
- Nurse Practitioner
- Construction
- Occupational Therapy
Tax rates in Long Beach, CA
The types of taxes in Long Beach imposed on the residents of Long Beach, CA, are as follows:
- Sales Tax: The current total local sales tax rate in Long Beach, CA, is 10.25%, 6% California state sales tax, 0.25% Los Angeles County sales tax, 1% Long Beach tax, and 3% special tax.
- Income Tax: Long Beach has an income tax rate of 9.3%, higher than the US average of 4.6%.
- Property tax: 1% of the assessed value.
Housing market in Long Beach, CA
Long Beach has expensive housing and rental prices, which makes it hard for low-income homeowners and renters to find a place to live after moving to Long Beach, California. Here are critical stats about Long Beach, CA’s housing and rental market.
- Long Beach had a median home listing price of $800,000, and the median listing price per square foot was $627.
- The homeownership rate in Long Beach stands at 40.5%, indicating that fewer than half of the housing units are owner-occupied.
- An owner-occupied housing unit rate is 40.53%, and renter-occupied units constitute 60% in Long Beach.
- The typical monthly rental cost in Long Beach, CA, is approximately $2,125 for all types of bedrooms and properties, with a median rent of $2,105.
- This sets the rental expenses in Long Beach at roughly 5% higher than the national median.
Here’s a table summarizing the average rent and median home value for different types of accommodations in Long Beach:
| Housing costs | Long Beach | US |
| Median home cost | $800,000 | $338,100 |
| Rental cost of a studio | $1,495 | $1080 |
| Rental price of 1 bedroom | $1,795 | $1180 |
| Rentalpricet of 2 bedroom | $2,445 | $1430 |
| Rental price of 3 bedroom | $3,064 | $1860 |
Top neighborhoods in Long Beach, CA
The best places to live in Long Beach, CA are as follows:
- Bixby Knolls
- Naples
- East Village
- Belmont Heights
- Hellman
- Belmont Shore
- Belmont Park
- Park Estates
- Los Altos
- Lakewood Village
- Los Cerritos
- El Dorado Park
- Alamitos Heights
Education system in Long Beach, CA
Long Beach is known to have one of the most highly reputed school systems in America. The key starts regarding the education system in Long Beach, CA, is listed below:
- The LBUSD is the third-largest school district in California, serving a diverse student population.
- CSULB is a public university ranked #105 in National Universities
- California State University–Long Beach tuition is $6,904 for in-state students and $17,200 for out-of-state students.
- There are 191 public schools and 97 private schools in Long Beach.
- The student-teacher ratio in Long Beach is 24:1, which is higher than the national average of 17:1.
Public schools in Long Beach, CA:
- Newcomb Academy
- Tincher Preparatory
- Rogers Middle School
- Intellectual Virtues Academy of Long Beach
- Helen Keller Middle School
- Marshall Academy of the Arts
- Jefferson Leadership Academies
Elementary schools in Long Beach, CA:
- Naples Elementary
- Newcomb Academy
- Gant Elementary
- Prisk Elementary
- Fremont Elementary
- Lowell Elementary
- Kettering Elementary School
- Carver Elementary
High schools in Long Beach, CA:
- Eunice Sato Academy of Math & Science
- Ernest S. McBride Senior High
- Millikan High School
- Polytechnic High School
- Wilson High School
Colleges and universities in Long Beach, CA:
- California State University, Long Beach (CSULB)
- Long Beach City College
- Marymount California University
Public Transportation in Long Beach, CA
Long Beach has various public transportation options, with the Cheapest and quickest buses with fixed routes in different areas within the city.
The average one-way commute time in Long Beach, CA, is about 30.4 minutes, longer than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
You might not need a car to get around in Long Beach, but reaching your one-way destination in 27.6 minutes would be easier if you owned a car.
Long Beach, CA offers a variety of public transportation options, including:
- Long Beach Transit: It provides fixed and flexible bus services in Long Beach and nearby areas, charging $1.25 for a one-way trip.
- Metro Blue Line: This light rail system connects Downtown Los Angeles to downtown Long Beach, offering a convenient and affordable travel option between the two cities.
- UCLA/Westwood Commuter Express: Long Beach Transit has a commuter express service from Long Beach to West Los Angeles, specifically for UCLA students, faculty, and staff. Free parking is available at Long Beach Airport and Willow Station for trips from Long Beach.
Weather and climate in Long Beach, CA
Long Beach, California, experiences a Mediterranean climate characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Long Beach has two main seasons – a warm season lasting about 2.9 months, from June 30 to September 27, and an incredible season lasting about 4.1 months, from November 25 to March 30.
- Summers in Long Beach are short, warm, and clear, while winters are long, calm, and partly cloudy. Temperatures typically range from 48°F to 82°F throughout the year.
- Long Beach receives an average of 13 inches of rain annually per year, less than the US average of 38 inches.
- Long Beach enjoys an average of 278 sunny days per year, surpassing the US average of 205 sunny days.
- August is the hottest month in Long Beach, with an average high of 82°F and an average low of 64°F.
- December is the coldest month in Long Beach, with an average high of 66°F and an average low of 49°F.
Things to Do in Long Beach, CA
Check out the list of things to do and places to see in Long Beach, CA:
- Visit the Aquarium of the Pacific to see different sea animals and habitats in the Pacific Ocean.
- In Naples, you can go on a gondola ride through the pretty canals of this waterfront neighborhood.
- Tour the Queen Mary, a historic ship, to learn about its exciting history.
- At Shoreline Village, walk on the colorful boardwalk, shop, and eat with a view of the marina.
- Go to the Long Beach Waterfront to relax on the beach, ride a bike, or have a picnic with an ocean view.
- Explore Retro Row, a unique area with vintage shops, art galleries, and eating places.
- Enjoy outdoor activities like picnics, hiking, and birdwatching in the large El Dorado Park.
- Take a whale-watching tour from Shoreline Village to see marine life in the Pacific Ocean.
- Visit the Museum of Latin American Art to see diverse art and learn about Latin American culture.
- Relax on Junipero Beach, swim, or walk peacefully along the shoreline.
Pros and Cons of Living in Long Beach, CA
The benefits and drawbacks of living in Long Beach, CA, include
| Pros of Living in Long Beach | Cons of Living in Long Beach |
| A vibrant coastal city with easy access to beaches and local attractions | High cost of living |
| Diverse communities and thriving arts and culture scene | Noise pollution from traffic and construction |
| Friendly and welcoming residents | High crime rates |
| Abundance of jobs and local amenities | Vulnerability to natural disasters |
| Proximity to Los Angeles and other major cities | Limited affordable housing options |
| Beautiful beaches and nature reserves | Limited public transportation options |
| The excellent education system and recreational activities | Limited job opportunities for average earners |
Final Verdict
If you are considering moving to California, Long Beach is an excellent option for a city to call home.
After reading the blog post, you know all the opportunities in Long Beach and its facts. So, with everything you need to prepare for your long-distance move, you’re in a far better position to get started.
Photo Credit: Eyad Abutaha