Are you thinking of moving to California? Long Beach will likely be one of the cities on your shortlist. It’s a great place in many ways, but not without its faults too. So, what’re the pros and cons of living in Long Beach?
If you want to move to Long Beach, you’ll be glad to know this is a lovely city. The pros of living in Long Beach include diverse culture, access to beaches, proximity to LA, and opportunities. But it also has its faults such as cost of living, crime rate, traffic, and risks of natural disasters.
However, these faults don’t essentially define the city. As you’ll find out, many people are still moving there because of its great qualities. Here, we look at the pros and cons of living in Long Beach.
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Pros of Living in Long Beach
Living in Long Beach comes with many benefits that attract people to the city. Here are some of those benefits.
Diverse Culture
California is the most diverse state in the country, and this reflects in its major cities. Whether it’s culturally or ethnically, there’s plenty of diversity in Long Beach. The city is part of the most diverse in the country. Here, you’ll find every major ethnic and immigrant group.
Such diversity also reflects in its food. You’ll have access to traditional cuisines from almost every corner of the world. Being diverse means it’s more liberal and inclusive. No matter who you’re, you’ll easily find the city welcoming.
Access to Beaches
They don’t call this place Long Beach for no reason. The city is blessed with many beaches, which was even why it was renamed Long Beach instead of Wilmore City, which is its former name. No matter which part of the city you choose to go to, you can easily find a beach. So, if you’re the type that enjoys spending time on beaches, you’ll find this city perfect.
Not only does Long Beach have its sandy shores, but it’s also close to other famous beaches in Southern California. For example, Malibu and Huntington Beach are only minutes away by car.
Proximity to Los Angeles
Long Beach is the seventh-largest city in California. But beyond its size, it’s very close to Los Angeles. From the city to downtown Los Angeles is only 25 minutes by car. This proximity means you get to enjoy the benefits of both cities. You can easily access the unrivaled entertainment scene of Los Angeles, get a job there, visit its finest restaurants, etc., from Long Beach.
Of course, Long Beach has its own choice of restaurants and shopping. But if you ever get bored of the city, Los Angeles is very close by.
Job Opportunities
The city has a vibrant economy which means many job opportunities for residents. No matter your skills, you’ll likely find a suitable job in the city. There are several large industries in the city, and job projections are quite favorable.
Long Beach port is a major job creator for the city. But, of course, there’s also the California State University, Long Beach, among other employers.
Cons of Living in Long Beach
There’s no city without its faults, and if you’re planning to live in Long Beach, you can expect the following.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in this city is quite high, and for many people, this is unaffordable. Everything is costly here, from the basic things to the luxury. California is known to have one of the highest costs of living in the country. But Long Beach’s cost of living is even higher. While the average cost of living in California is 49.9% higher than the national average, that of Long Beach is 60.4% is higher.
Another factor that influences the high cost of living here is the cost of real estate. It’s why most of those living there are renters. The average price of a house here is $751,012, which is even higher than the around $700,000 that is California average and far ahead of the national average. With these prices, anyone will think twice about buying a house in the city.
However, you can still get affordable apartments. Although the rents in the city can be pretty expensive, there are neighborhoods where rent is a little cheaper, even if it’s still above the national average.
Natural Disasters
California generally has its fair share of natural disasters. But in the past few years, wildfires have been a common occurrence in South California. Long Beach is in this part, which means that you’re at risk. But the danger is minimal because Long Beach is close to the coast.
However, there are other risks such as earthquakes and drought, which are general to the state. The environmental effects of these disasters could also affect air quality, among other things.
Traffic
The 405, which is a major highway serving the city, is notorious for its traffic congestion. This means if you’re not working in the town and have to commute to other places like Los Angeles, you’ll be spending lots of hours in traffic.
You can also use public transport systems to Los Angeles, but this usually takes more time than a car. There’s a bus and Metro light rails system for transport to Greater Los Angeles. You can also use the Blue Lines to move from Downtown Long Beach to Downtown LA.
However, traffic is much lower within the city itself. Overall, It has a Walkscore of 72, making it the 10th most walkable city in the US, a bike score of 69, and a transit score of 52.
Crime Rate
Long Beach might not be Afghanistan or Chiraq, but it’s not the safest place in America either. The city’s crime rate is 17% above the national average, and property crime is 14% higher. Violent crimes are also more common here at 33% above the national average.
Living in Long Beach means there’s a 1 in 35 chance that you’ll be a victim of a crime. But you shouldn’t worry, the city is still safer than 18% of cities in America, and the crime rates have been reducing over the years.
In Conclusion
Living in Long Beach can be great for you. The weather is fantastic, and there are opportunities. But you’ll also have to worry about the affordability, among other things. It’s always up to you to decide whether it’s right for you or not.
