With L.A. less than a half an hour away and an exciting life of its own, Long Beach, California looks good from any angle.
The community comes with several zip codes and two area codes that cover more than 50-square miles of land located on the water. The Port of Long Beach, also known as the Harbor Department, is the second largest seaport in the United States, making the area an exciting spot for international shipping.
Popular parks, a dynamic downtown, booming business and excellent education make Long Beach the perfect location for a healthy and happening lifestyle, never leaving residents with a moment of boredom within its borders.
If you are considering moving to the Golden State, mull over locating to Long Beach after reading this guide that offers a wealth of information on the area.
Long Beach Climate
A southern California spot, Long Beach sees dryer summers and wetter winters. With mostly sunny skies and the typical temperature averaging 64.3 annually, with 84-degree days in August and 45-degree days in December, residents are always comfortable in the climate. The summer season sees a significant amount of fog that increases overnight, covering the area in the early morning hours. But what is a little fog, when the temperature is tempting all year long? Of course, Long Beach does not see snow at any point during the winter, making the location an attractive spot for sun worshipers. However, prepare to wear sunscreen and sport some shades daily if you are thinking about settling in the area.
Long Beach Neighborhoods
The coastal neighborhood of Alamitos Beach, the downtown district of Cambodia Town, the historic village of California Heights and the tiny town of Terminal Island are dozens of different subdivisions that make up Long Beach Neighborhoods. With so many spots to settle, it may take awhile to decide exactly what Long Beach location may be right for you.
Downtown Long Beach, as with any city center, is packed with busy businesses and relaxed residential properties, placing professionals and locals among one another daily. The mixed crowd makes for an interesting area, with suited workers walking alongside laid-back locals. A Public Safety Task Force keeps fear off downtown streets as committee members work closely with local law enforcement to assure area security.
The Long Beach Neighborhood Services Bureau also serves the area, promoting district improvement, leadership and resource centers. The Housing Rehabilitation Division even offers low-cost loans in an effort to improve the environment by fixing up area apartments and homes. So whether you rent or own in any Long Beach location, you are sure to live in a lovely and safe space.
Registering Your Car
You have 10 days to obtain a new license in California. The local Division of Motor Vehicles states you are officially a California resident if you register to vote, pay school tuition or file property taxes. To obtain a Golden State driving permit, incoming residents must provide proof of name, address, birth date and social security card.
Providing the necessary application, passing a vision test and paying a $39 fee, are all required to get a license. Registering your vehicle and getting California license plates can also be done by filling out the necessary paperwork and proving your vehicle is insured. Vehicle registration fees begin at $46 dollars in California and an additional fee for license plates is required.
Long Beach Schools
The Long Beach Unified School District educates nearly 81,000 students in 84 public facilities in the cities of Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, and Avalon on Catalina Island. According to a Global Education Study completed by the non-profit organization Battelle for Kids, the local school district is literally one of the top 5 education systems in the world, ranking alongside Finland, Hong Kong, Ontario and Singapore.
As if that wasn't enough, Paramount Unified School District also serves sections of Long Beach. This top-notch school system also provides premier schooling to children in the area, assuring all students learn in a healthy and successful environment. Private primary and secondary schools are also located in Long Beach, giving students a chance to receive religious or specialized education in the area.
Cal State Long Beach is one of the largest of the 23 California State University campuses located throughout the Golden State. The four-year campuses educate almost 437,000 students and is staffed by more than 44,000 employees, making the system almost half-a-million members large.
If you are interested in a less dense learning atmosphere and are considering attaining your associate's degree, the Long Beach City College could be the perfect place for you. For more than 80 years, the site has valued equity, focus and integrity from its students, creating strong leaders in the community. And if you’re solely interested in just a business education, DeVry University Long Beach is available to area students as well.
Long Beach Employment
With an unemployment rate averaging around 11.5%, the area may seem a bit bleak as far as jobs are concerned. But remember, the school systems. Long Beach Unified School District employs almost 8,000 staff members, and Cal State Long Beach provides jobs to almost 7,000 area residents. So if you're in the education business, the region may be just the place for you and your family to reside.
Other top employers include Boeing, with more than 7,000 employees, and the City of Long Beach, with 5,500 workers. Why not work where you live, literally? Long Beach jobs are plentiful. The city also assists incoming business owners find employees to in the community through the Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network.
If there is a will there is a way to find a job in Long Beach. The Long Beach Press Telegram job postings or L.A. Times classifieds are great places to begin your search if you are thinking about relocating to the region. Also check out the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce and area employment agencies for job opportunities you may have never thought of yourself.
Living Costs in the City
Though the cost of living is not necessarily low in Long Beach, you will get a bang for your buck if you are wise with your wallet. According to CNN Money, the median family income is $51,768 annually and the average home price is $290,000. With a 10.9% cost of living higher than the California average and a 45.5% larger cost of living than the national average, Long Beach is a location you may only want to move to if you are financially secure.
Though less than Los Angeles, Long Beach apartments can run anywhere between $1,200 and above for a one-bedroom, depending on the landscape and luxury of the location. So do the numbers and figure out if you and your family can afford to live in this gorgeous California community.
Long Beach Moving Resources
Moving and storage companies are ready and willing to help you with your move to Long Beach, whether you’re moving from out of state or from another county in California. Make sure you get estimates from multiple moving services before you commit to hiring any (at least three estimates). Check back to our guides for tips on how to choose your moving service wisely with important questions to ask, differentiating between types of estimates, and mistakes to avoid. Visit the following pages at Movers.com to get quotes for the following services:
Long Beach Transportation
From water to land there are plenty of ways to get around Long Beach.
Municipal transportation company Long Beach Transit provides passport shuttle, Aquabus and Aqualink, with several zero-fare bus routes in the region. In the summer season, the transit authority runs a water taxis for a $1 fare. The AquaBus picks up and drops off passengers at six downtown areas along the waterfront.
And if you have sea legs, the Orange County Transportation Authority also runs buses in the region, making it possible for residents and visitors to buy a ticket and enjoy the ride. Long Beach bike paths are one of the most popular ways to travel. The four major Class I bike paths include the Los Angeles River Bikeway, 29.1-miles, the San Gabriel River Bike Trail, 28-miles, El Dorado Park Bike Path, 4-miles, and the Heartwell Park Bike Path, 2.5-miles.
Just like driving a car, you must have a bike license in order to operate your two wheels about town. For only $3 a permit, biking is both an inexpensive and green way to travel. As the second largest harbor in America, the Port of Long Beach is popular for water transportation. Though filled with mostly heavy ocean liners carrying tons of freight, the port is available for other non-commercial vessels. Lastly, the Long Beach Airport is a convenient landing strip for locals who frequently fly in and out of the area.
Culture & Contemporary Life
Outside is where all the fun is in Long Beach. Culture is nature and nature is culture in this California community. The Long Beach Parks and Recreation Department oversees 92 parks that cover more than 3,100 acres in the city. Residents have made El Dorado Regional Park a popular stomping ground, paying $60 for an annual pass that permits use of the park's campgrounds, bicycle paths, fishing lakes, nature center, physical fitness course, public swimming pools and four launch ramps.
With even more unnoted amenities, the park is one of the most popular places to be.
After a long day's play and good hot shower, it is time to enjoy the evening in Long Beach. California State University Long Beach Carpenter Performing Arts Center and Bob Cole Conservatory of Music are two significant spots residents enjoy entertaining themselves at with popular productions and music. Regular art walks and festivals in the city center also occupy residents after they enjoy a fine dinner at any of the downtown eateries. Of course when one wants to have a little dancing after their dining, many local nightclubs and bars create the perfect atmosphere for a little boogie.
When you think of gondola rides and Naples, you think of Italy. However, it is time to rethink that notion. As if there was not enough to do locally, Long Beach canals create a romantic feel in the community with residents riding the flat-bottomed boats for fun. So from land to sea, Long Beach culture creates vast outdoor and indoor experiences you are sure to enjoy every season of the year.
Long Beach Relocation Tips
- Visit Long Beach, CA and see what you can't believe by word-of- mouth. Once you get a chance to hang out in the community, there may be no choice but to consider relocating to the region.
- Research area property values. With real estate at a low, now may be the time to buy some property or invest in a business in the popular California community.
- Contact the Long Beach Police Department to find out about area crime ratings and see how safe certain neighborhoods are. It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to relocating your family.