Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 15 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Virginia Beach
Virginia
15
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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Rent averages $254/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,568)
Homes cost $39k less ($304,500 vs $343,700)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $15,871/yr
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
83% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Households earn $15,871 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 32°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Home Value
$39k less
$304,500 vs $343,700
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$15,871
$87,544 vs $71,673/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
83% lower
92.3 vs 539.8 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.2% unemployment
Virginia Beach
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 457,900 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 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 15 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 8 and Virginia Beach wins 15. 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 Chicago to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $343,700 median home), income ($71,673 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Virginia Beach, VA are about 714 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.