Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 16 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598
Virginia Beach
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
Homes cost $576k less ($343,700 vs $919,700)
71% less violent crime than Boulder
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $285/mo less ($1,568 vs $1,853)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.3%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$7,301
$87,544 vs $80,243/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
71% lower
92.3 vs 322.3 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Median Home Value
$576k less
$343,700 vs $919,700
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,568⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 94.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 16 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 7 and Virginia Beach wins 16. 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 Boulder to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $343,700 median home), income ($80,243 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Virginia Beach, VA are about 1,591 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.