Is Long Beach a good place to live? The short answer
Long Beach suits people who want the coast, a real city and a working economy at a lower price than the rest of the Los Angeles shoreline. Four numbers frame the decision:
- $852,391: Zillow's typical home value in September 2026, up 2.4% on a year.
- $2,412 a month: Zillow's typical asking rent in September 2026, a record for the series.
- $87,430: the Census median household income (ACS 2020-2024), below the county's $90,112.
- 64.9°F: the average annual temperature, per National Weather Service data for Long Beach Airport.
The trade-offs are air quality near the port and freeways, beach water that can be unsafe after rain, older housing and a cost of buying that needs a high income. The rest of this page takes each pro and con in turn.
Pros of living in Long Beach
Pro: Long Beach's beaches, bay and canals
Long Beach's beaches face San Pedro Bay, and the city also has Alamitos Bay, the Naples canals and Colorado Lagoon on its southeast side. A 2.2-mile federal breakwater, built in 1949, flattens the surf, so the water along most of the city is calm enough for paddling, kayaks and small boats rather than surfing. Rosie's Dog Beach in Belmont Shore is the only legal off-leash dog beach in Los Angeles County. A bike and walking path runs along the beach from downtown.
Pro: the lowest coastal home prices in Los Angeles County
Zillow's typical Long Beach value of $852,391 compares with $1,473,478 in Redondo Beach and $1,719,205 in El Segundo (September 2026). It is the only Los Angeles County city in our best beach towns ranking with a typical value under $1 million. The range inside the city is wide: Zillow's typical value runs from $394,615 in the East Village to $2,284,521 on the Peninsula.
Pro: rail, buses and an airport of its own
The Metro A Line runs from downtown Long Beach through North Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles and on to Pasadena and Pomona. Long Beach Transit runs bus routes across the city and into Lakewood and Signal Hill, including a free downtown shuttle. Long Beach Airport, on the north side by the 405, saves the trip to LAX for many domestic flights.
Pro: a mild climate with few hot days
National Weather Service averages put August, the warmest month, at 74.3°F and December, the coolest, at 56.7°F. The city sees about 23 days a year above 90°F and around two above 100°F. Summer mornings are often grey with marine cloud that burns off by afternoon.
Pro: a large and varied job base
The Port of Long Beach is the second-busiest container port in the United States and supports more than 30,000 jobs in the city. Healthcare is the other anchor: Molina Healthcare and SCAN Health Plan are headquartered in Long Beach. Cal State Long Beach, one of the largest universities in California, and Long Beach City College are major employers too.
Pro: parks and more than 60 miles of bike paths
El Dorado Regional Park covers 815 acres with fishing lakes, an archery range and a 102-acre nature center. The city has five major off-road bike paths totaling more than 60 miles. The Green Belt is a native-plant path along an old Pacific Electric line.
Pro: big events and attractions on your doorstep
The Grand Prix of Long Beach, held on downtown streets every April since 1975, is the city's biggest event. The Aquarium of the Pacific sits on Rainbow Harbor, the Queen Mary is docked across the water, and the Long Beach Marathon runs each October. Long Beach will host several sports at the 2028 Summer Olympics, including sailing, rowing, water polo and beach volleyball.
Pro: almost every type of home
Few California cities offer such a spread in one place. Census figures show 40% of Long Beach homes are detached houses, 13% are in two- to four-unit buildings and 40% are in buildings of five or more units (ACS 2020-2024). Buyers can choose between houses, duplexes and fourplexes, garden condos and high-rise towers downtown, often within a few miles.
Pro: a university town on the east side
Cal State Long Beach brings concerts and theater to the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, a jazz radio station (KKJZ 88.1) and a steady rental market around the campus. The Long Beach Opera, founded in 1979, and the Terrace Theater downtown round out the arts scene.
Cons of living in Long Beach
Con: air pollution from the ports and freeways
The twin ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, the 710 truck route and the 405 put diesel exhaust upwind of much of the city. Long-term levels of toxic air pollutants in and around Long Beach have been measured at two to three times those in parts of the region such as the Westside. West Long Beach and areas near the 710 are closest to the source. Check an address on the state's CalEnviroScreen map before you buy.
Con: beach water can be unsafe after rain
The Los Angeles River empties into the Long Beach side of San Pedro Bay, and the breakwater limits flushing. Long Beach beaches often score a D or F in Heal the Bay's Beach Report Card during wet weather, though many earn an A or B in dry months. Check the current grade before you swim, especially within three days of rain.
Con: buying needs a high income
Redfin's median sale price was $909,567 over the three months to September 2026. With 20% down at a 7.24% rate, principal, interest and property tax come to about $5,913 a month, which on the usual 28% guideline needs an income of about $253,000. That is nearly three times the city's median household income.
Con: most households rent, and rents are at a record
About 59% of Long Beach households rent (ACS 2020-2024), and Zillow's typical asking rent of $2,412 is the highest in its series. Rents have risen 57.7% in ten years.
Con: property crime above the City of Los Angeles
California DOJ figures for 2025 show 6.00 violent crimes and 24.35 property crimes per 1,000 Long Beach residents, using the state's January 2025 population estimate. Los Angeles had 6.74 violent and 22.56 property crimes per 1,000. Rates vary widely across the city. Our Long Beach crime data guide explains how to look up an address with official data.
Con: earthquake risk on the Newport-Inglewood fault
Long Beach sits on the Newport-Inglewood fault. The magnitude 6.4 Long Beach earthquake of 1933 killed 120 people, mostly through the collapse of unreinforced masonry buildings. Budget for earthquake insurance and ask about retrofits in older buildings; see our earthquake insurance guide.
Con: older homes need more upkeep
The median Long Beach home was built in 1959 (ACS 2020-2024). Expect original plumbing, sewer laterals, electrical panels and foundations in many houses. Get a sewer line camera inspection and a full home inspection on any pre-1970 home.
Con: traffic and truck routes
The 405 and 710 carry heavy commuter and port truck traffic, and parking is tight in Belmont Shore, Alamitos Beach and downtown, where many older buildings have little or no off-street parking. The average commute for Long Beach workers was about 30 minutes each way (ACS 2020-2024).
What living in Long Beach is like
Climate in Long Beach
Long Beach's climate sits between semi-arid and Mediterranean: warm, mostly dry summers and mild winters with occasional rain. The airport weather station is four miles inland, so temperatures right on the coast range less than the official figures, and inland parts of the city run warmer in summer.
Getting around Long Beach
Most residents drive, but Long Beach is flatter and more grid-like than much of Southern California, which makes cycling practical. The A Line runs north from downtown Long Beach through the north of the city toward Los Angeles. Orange County is reached via the 405 and 22, and the 710 heads north toward downtown Los Angeles.
Things to do in Long Beach
Second Street in Belmont Shore is the best-known walking street for shops and restaurants. Gondola rides run through the Naples canals, and the Naples Island Christmas boat parade has run since 1946. Ferries to Catalina Island leave from Catalina Landing downtown. For shopping, 2nd and PCH, Long Beach Towne Center and the Pike Outlets cover most needs.
Salary needed to live in Long Beach
MIT's Living Wage Calculator for Los Angeles County (February 15, 2026) sets the pre-tax income needed to cover basic costs while renting: $60,161 for one adult, $104,483 for one adult with one child, and $140,735 for two working adults with two children. Buying the median home takes about $253,000 a year, and a downtown condo at Redfin's 90802 median of $526,984 about $147,000 before dues. Our Long Beach cost of living guide breaks down every line.
Who's moving to and from Long Beach
Long Beach is a settled city. In the Census ACS 2020-2024, 89.2% of residents lived in the same home a year earlier. Of those who moved, most stayed local: 7.0% of residents had moved from elsewhere in Los Angeles County, 2.0% from another California county, 1.3% from another state and 0.6% from abroad. The population was 455,548, with a median age of 37.1. The Census does not publish where people leaving Long Beach go at city level; county-to-county flow data covers Los Angeles County as a whole.
Retiring in Long Beach
What matters most for retirement here is cost and access. Long Beach has a VA hospital and is home to the headquarters of SCAN Health Plan, a Medicare Advantage insurer. The A Line and Long Beach Transit reduce the need to drive. If you are 55 or older and selling a California home, Prop 19 may let you carry your Prop 13 tax base to a Long Beach purchase; see our Prop 19 guide. Age-restricted options in and near the city are on our Long Beach 55+ communities page, and single-level condos with elevators are common in the downtown towers.
Where to live in Long Beach
Zillow's neighborhood values (September 2026) show how far apart the areas are. Waterfront Naples ($2,020,015) and the Peninsula ($2,284,521) are the top end. Belmont Shore ($1,364,075), Bixby Knolls ($1,306,819) and Park Estates ($1,262,762) are established single-family areas. California Heights ($948,822) and Wrigley ($821,089) have older bungalows near the city average. Downtown ($465,995) and Alamitos Beach ($516,007) are mostly condos and apartments. Our Long Beach neighborhoods guide profiles each area, with separate guides to Belmont Shore and Belmont Heights. For prices by ZIP, see the Long Beach ZIP code guide.
Should you move to Long Beach? A checklist
- Price your budget against the ZIP you want, not the city median; values range from under $500,000 to over $1.3 million by ZIP.
- Check the address on CalEnviroScreen for air quality and on the FEMA flood map.
- Drive your commute at rush hour, especially on the 405 and 710.
- Look up crime data for the address with the Long Beach Police Department's crime map.
- Look up schools on the California School Dashboard and confirm assignment with Long Beach Unified's school locator; do not rely on a listing.
- Get insurance quotes, including earthquake cover, before you make an offer.
- For an older home, budget for sewer, electrical and foundation work.
- Rent first if you are unsure which side of the city fits you; the east, the coast and the north feel very different.
When you are ready to buy, our Long Beach guide explains how to choose a local agent.