Long Beach draws young professionals who want walkable neighborhoods and light rail access to Los Angeles, beach-lifestyle renters priced out of the Westside, and families chasing good schools in Bixby Knolls and Los Altos, all while fire-displacement demand from areas like Malibu and the Pacific Palisades continues to push new renters toward the city's flat coastal neighborhoods. This report covers current Long Beach rents, the forces moving the market right now, and what the numbers mean for your bottom line as a Long Beach rental property owner.
Long Beach Rental Market Snapshot — May 2026
Here's where Long Beach rents stand as of May 2026, across all property types — apartments, condos, townhomes, and single-family homes.
Long Beach median rent sits at $2,193 in May 2026, down 0.97% from last month and 19.6% below this time last year, with homes averaging 75 days on market — a combination that tells landlords pricing aggressively matters more than ever if you want to avoid extended vacancy.
| Metric | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Median Rent (All Types, Long Beach) | $2,193 | -1.0% MoM |
| Avg. Days on Market | 75 days | — |
| Rent Growth YoY | -19.6% | — |
Source: Doorstead market data, aggregated from public records and online rental listings, all rental property types in Long Beach, CA, May 2026.
What's Driving Long Beach Rental Market Conditions Right Now
Long Beach Rental Supply & New Construction
Long Beach is in the middle of a construction surge, and it's putting pressure on asking rents. The city issued 1,704 housing permits in 2024, more than double the 703 recorded in 2021, and approved 5,210 new units from 2023 through 2025, the highest three-year total since the 1980s. Major projects feeding the 2026 pipeline include JPI's 272-unit Portico downtown (the first phase of a 900-unit master plan), Trammell Crow's 600-unit Alexan West End at 600 Broadway, a 281-unit mixed-use building at 6700 PCH, and a 747-ADU-permit year in 2024 that set a new city record.
Why People Rent in Long Beach
Long Beach pulls renters who want coastal access and urban walkability at a discount to the westside of Greater Los Angeles (LA). The city's proximity to major employment centers, including the Port of Long Beach, Cal State Long Beach, and healthcare systems like MemorialCare, gives residents short commutes without paying West LA prices. Post-wildfire displacement is adding to that demand: Redfin agents note a measurable shift of residents from high-fire-risk areas like Malibu and the Pacific Palisades toward flat coastal cities like Long Beach, which they see as safer and more price-accessible.
Long Beach Rental Market Outlook
The data points in the same direction: Long Beach median rent sits at $2,193, down 19.6% year-over-year and another 0.97% month-over-month, while the average home sits on the market for 75 days. That combination of steep annual declines, continued monthly softening, and a pipeline still delivering units through 2026 means landlords should expect continued downward pressure on asking rents for the near term. Price your unit at or slightly below comparable listings to cut that 75-day vacancy time, and watch short-term rental conversion trends closely as 2026 World Cup events approach, since any meaningful pullback in long-term supply could tighten the market faster than the construction pipeline alone suggests.
Where Demand Concentrates in Long Beach — May 2026
Demand in Long Beach clusters around a few distinct anchors, and the logic differs sharply by neighborhood. Downtown and the East Village Arts District pull in singles and young professionals primarily because of transit access: the Metro A (Blue) Line runs directly through the area, putting Downtown Los Angeles within a 30–40 minute ride for commuters priced out of Greater Los Angeles proper. A Walk Score of 93 reinforces that draw, since many residents here go car-light entirely.
Belmont Shore attracts a different profile. The neighborhood sits between the Pacific Ocean and Alamitos Bay, with 2nd Street serving as the walkable retail and dining spine. Families with school-age children tend to sort into this corridor based on whether their address falls within Naples Elementary or Lowell Elementary, both well-regarded within Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD).
For families prioritizing schools and space, Los Altos and Bixby Knolls capture most of the demand. Los Altos sits adjacent to Cal State Long Beach and the El Dorado Nature Center, and its schools, including Gant Elementary and Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School, consistently rank among the stronger options in LBUSD. That combination pulls families and university-affiliated renters simultaneously. Bixby Knolls draws a similar family demographic with its tree-shaded lots and mid-century housing stock, reinforced by the Atlantic Avenue corridor's concentration of independent restaurants and community events like First Fridays. Both neighborhoods also benefit from the post-wildfire migration pattern Redfin agents have noted, with renters relocating from high-fire-risk areas like Malibu and Pacific Palisades gravitating toward flat coastal cities like Long Beach.
Long Beach Rent by Bedroom Count — May 2026
Three-bedroom single-family rentals in Long Beach are averaging $3,950 per month, making them the volume sweet spot for owners targeting families drawn to neighborhoods like Bixby Knolls and Los Altos, where school quality and lot size drive leasing decisions. Two-bedroom homes come in at $2,715, a price point that fits well with the young professional and couples demographic concentrated in Belmont Shore and Downtown. Four-bedroom homes average $7,400, nearly double the three-bedroom figure, reflecting a much thinner tenant pool at that size. Owners in that tier should set pricing carefully and expect a longer search for the right renter.
| Bedrooms | SFR Median Rent |
|---|---|
| 2-Bedroom | $2,715 |
| 3-Bedroom | $3,950 |
| 4-Bedroom | $7,400 |
| Source: Doorstead market data, aggregated from public records and online rental listings, single-family properties, May 2026. |
Where to Rent in Long Beach by Property Type — May 2026
Where to Rent a Single-Family Home in Long Beach
Single-family homes in Long Beach concentrate in Bixby Knolls and Los Altos, two established residential neighborhoods in the city's northern reaches. Bixby Knolls draws families with its large lots, mid-century architecture, and the revitalized Atlantic Avenue corridor, while Los Altos pulls renters specifically because of its high-performing LBUSD schools, including Gant Elementary and Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School. Los Altos also sits adjacent to Cal State Long Beach (CSULB), so renters here skew toward families prioritizing school quality alongside faculty and staff who work on campus.
Where to Rent an Apartment or Condo in Long Beach
Apartment and condo rentals cluster in Downtown Long Beach and the East Village Arts District, where density, walkability, and transit access make multifamily living the dominant housing form. Downtown carries a Walk Score of 93 and connects directly to Greater Los Angeles via the Metro A (Blue) Line light rail, which suits young professionals and commuters who want urban amenities without a car-dependent lifestyle. Belmont Shore, tucked between the Pacific Ocean and Alamitos Bay with retail and dining along 2nd Street, also draws a strong renter pool, particularly singles and couples who prioritize coastal access over square footage.
Data Sources & Methodology
- Rental market data: Median rents, days on market, listing counts, and rent change figures. Sourced from county public records, deed and tax assessor data, and rental listings on publicly accessible platforms.
- Doorstead Platform Data: Internal leasing outcomes from Doorstead-managed single-family homes — days to lease, pricing tier benchmarks. Long Beach, CA, trailing 12 months.
Data refreshed monthly. Doorstead benchmarks reflect managed properties only and may not be representative of the broader Long Beach, CA rental market.