Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Evansville, IN
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 14 of 23 categories
Evansville
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Virginia Beach
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
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.
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $223k less ($121,100 vs $343,700)
Rent averages $651/mo less ($917 vs $1,568)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Virginia Beach
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $37,691/yr
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
92% less violent crime than Evansville
Households earn $37,691 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Evansville
Key Differences at a Glance
Evansville
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$223k less
$121,100 vs $343,700
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$37,691
$87,544 vs $49,853/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
92% lower
92.3 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Evansville, IN | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $121,100 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,853 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 317⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.2% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,906 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Evansville's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 14 of 23 categories. Evansville 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 Evansville to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($121,100 vs $343,700 median home), income ($49,853 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Evansville, IN and Virginia Beach, VA are about 637 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.