Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Boca Raton leads 12 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
97,980
Virginia Beach
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,544
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 50°F
Households earn $8,026 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Virginia Beach
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
Homes cost $253k less ($343,700 vs $597,100)
46% less violent crime than Boca Raton
Rent averages $602/mo less ($1,568 vs $2,170)
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.3%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $8,026/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$8,026
$95,570 vs $87,544/yr
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 87.4°F
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
46% lower
92.3 vs 171.0 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Median Home Value
$253k less
$343,700 vs $597,100
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,568⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $87,544 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 94.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 54.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 64.6% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 12 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 12 and Virginia Beach wins 11. 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 Boca Raton to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $343,700 median home), income ($95,570 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Virginia Beach, VA are about 758 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.