Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 19 of 23 categories
Downey
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052
Virginia Beach
Virginia
19
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 50°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Virginia Beach
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
Homes cost $335k less ($343,700 vs $679,000)
80% less violent crime than Downey
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$3,308
$87,544 vs $84,236/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
80% lower
92.3 vs 460.5 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Median Home Value
$335k less
$343,700 vs $679,000
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.6% unemployment
Virginia Beach
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,568⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 19 of 23 categories. Downey wins 4 and Virginia Beach wins 19. 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 Downey to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $343,700 median home), income ($84,236 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Virginia Beach, VA are about 2,361 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.