Is Long View Safe, Pros and cons of living in Long View

Longview, Washington, nestled in the southwestern part of the state, offers a blend of community charm and access to natural beauty. Situated at the confluence of the Cowlitz and Columbia Rivers, the city presents a unique geographical setting that influences its climate and lifestyle. Its proximity to major transportation corridors, including the I-5 freeway, makes it a strategic location for both residents and businesses. This positioning also facilitates relatively easy travel to larger metropolitan areas like Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington.

The city’s history is rooted in the timber industry, with the Long-Bell Lumber Company playing a significant role in its planned development. While the landscape has evolved, Longview continues to be a hub for various industries, contributing to its local economy and job market. Understanding the various facets of life in Longview, from its safety and cost of living to its employment opportunities and climate, is essential for anyone considering a move to this Pacific Northwest city.

Is it Safe to Live in Longview?

Longview’s overall crime rate is higher than the national average, presenting a mixed picture regarding safety. The city experiences a higher rate of property crimes compared to the national average. However, violent crime rates in Longview are lower than the national average.

Specific crime statistics indicate that there were 82 violent crimes reported, equating to 216 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average by 39.8% (as reported by Area Vibes). Conversely, the overall crime rate is 60.1% higher than the national average, with property crimes being a significant factor (as reported by Area Vibes). Residents have a 1 in 30 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Longview, and the city is considered safer than only 25% of U.S. cities (as reported by Area Vibes).

Neighborhoods within Longview can vary in their safety levels, with residents generally considering the northern parts of the city to be the safest. The chance of being a victim of crime can range from 1 in 8 in the eastern neighborhoods to 1 in 30 in the north (as reported by Crime Explorer). The east side of Longview sees the most incidents, with approximately 728 crimes per year, while the southwest part of the city has the fewest, with around 38 crimes annually (as reported by Crime Explorer).

Housing Market and Cost of Living

The housing market in Longview presents a range of options, with a median home value of $316,841 (as reported by Livability.com). Recent data from March 2026 indicates that home prices in Longview were up 4.9% compared to the previous year, with a median sale price of $375,000 (as reported by Redfin). Homes in Longview tend to sell relatively quickly, averaging about 31 days on the market (as reported by Redfin).

Rental costs in Longview are generally lower than the national average. The average rent in Longview, WA, is $1,295, which is 35.25% lower than the national average of $2,000 (as reported by Zillow). For a one-bedroom apartment, the average rent is around $1,050 per month, while a two-bedroom apartment averages $1,295 per month (as reported by Zillow). Apartments.com reports the average rent in May 2026 as $979 per month, which is 40% lower than the national average (as reported by Apartments.com).

The overall cost of living in Longview is considered relatively affordable, especially when compared to the state average. Longview is 0% less expensive than the national average and 13% less expensive than the average city in Washington (as reported by ERI Economic Research Institute). This affordability extends to housing, which is noted as being more affordable than the U.S. average (as reported by ERI Economic Research Institute).

Job Market and Economy

The average salary in Longview, Washington, is approximately $71,517 per year, or $34 per hour (as reported by ERI SalaryExpert). However, other sources provide different figures, with Zippia reporting an average salary of $47,000 and an hourly pay of $22.0 (as reported by Zippia). A more recent report from May 2026 suggests an average annual salary of $66,000, with some high-paying jobs reaching up to $200,000 annually (as reported by ReadySetHire).

The unemployment rate in Longview, WA, was 6.00% as of May 2026, which is lower than the long-term average of 7.99% (as reported by FRED). The employment rate is currently 95.20% (as reported by BestNeighborhood.org). Major employers in the area include PeaceHealth, Cowlitz Indian Tribe, JH Kelly, Kaiser Permanente, and Bud Clary Auto Group (as reported by ReadySetHire).

The local economy is supported by a strong industrial base, with key employment sectors including manufacturing, trade, transportation, warehousing, construction, skilled trades, healthcare, and retail services (as reported by American Workforce Group). Companies like Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging, JH Kelly, Weyerhaeuser, WestRock, and Nippon Dynawave Packaging are significant contributors to the job market (as reported by Zippia and Longview, WA economic development resources).

Climate and Weather

Longview experiences a sub-oceanic climate, characterized by cool, wet winters and warm, relatively dry summers. The average annual precipitation is around 48 inches (as reported by Livability.com) to 51 inches (as reported by myPerfectWeather), with most of it falling as rain. The wettest month is typically November, receiving about 9.7 inches of rain, while July is the driest, with approximately 0.6 inches (as reported by Weather and Climate).

Temperatures in Longview are generally mild, with the warm season lasting from June to September. The hottest month is August, with average high temperatures around 79°F and lows of 55°F (as reported by Weather and Climate). The cool season extends from November to February, with December being the coldest month, experiencing average lows of 36°F and highs of 46°F (as reported by Weather and Climate).

Over the course of the year, temperatures typically range from 35°F to 79°F and are rarely below 25°F or above 90°F (as reported by Weather and Climate). Snowfall is minimal, averaging around 2 to 3 inches annually (as reported by Livability.com and myPerfectWeather). The city also experiences significant seasonal variation in rainfall, with a greater chance of wet days from October to May (as reported by Weather and Climate).

Education and Demographics

Longview is part of the Cowlitz County R-1 School District, which includes 16 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, and 11 high schools (as reported by Movoto). While specific school ratings are not detailed here, the district serves the educational needs of the city’s younger population.

The population of Longview was approximately 38,069 in 2024, with a projected population of 38,292 for 2026 (as reported by Point2Homes and Longview Demographics). The city’s population is diverse, with White residents making up about 77.2% of the population, followed by Hispanic residents at 12.6% (as reported by Census Dots). Other racial groups include Multiracial (6.8%), Asian (1.7%), Native American/Other (1.1%), and Black (0.6%) (as reported by Census Dots).

The median age in Longview is around 40 years old (as reported by Point2Homes). The age distribution shows about 18.6% of the population are children under 15, 11.3% are between 15 and 24, 27.2% are between 25 and 44, 22.8% are between 45 and 64, and 20.1% are 65 or older (as reported by Point2Homes). Gender-wise, 48.4% of Longview locals are male, and 51.6% are female (as reported by Point2Homes).