Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 17 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Virginia Beach
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $141k less ($202,900 vs $343,700)
Rent averages $333/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,568)
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $29,195/yr
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
94% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $29,195 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$141k less
$202,900 vs $343,700
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$29,195
$87,544 vs $58,349/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
94% lower
92.3 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 457,900 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 17 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 6 and Virginia Beach wins 17. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Baltimore to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $343,700 median home), income ($58,349 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Virginia Beach, VA are about 177 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.