Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 14 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Virginia Beach
Virginia
14
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.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($270,700 vs $343,700)
Rent averages $263/mo less ($1,305 vs $1,568)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 50°F
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $23,559/yr
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
86% less violent crime than Dallas
Households earn $23,559 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
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
Dallas
Median Home Value
$73k less
$270,700 vs $343,700
Dallas
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 87.4°F
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$23,559
$87,544 vs $63,985/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
86% lower
92.3 vs 658.2 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 457,900 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 14 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 9 and Virginia Beach wins 14. 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 Dallas to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $343,700 median home), income ($63,985 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Virginia Beach, VA are about 1,206 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.