Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hampton, VA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Hampton leads 15 of 23 categories
Hampton
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217
Washington
District of Columbia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hampton, VA
Pros
Homes cost $485k less ($219,800 vs $705,000)
73% less violent crime than Washington
Rent averages $562/mo less ($1,255 vs $1,817)
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.5%)
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $37,292/yr
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $37,292 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Hampton
Violent Crime
73% lower
247.6 vs 925.9 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$485k less
$219,800 vs $705,000
Hampton
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$37,292
$101,722 vs $64,430/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hampton, VA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $219,800 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,430 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 94 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 92.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hampton City Public Schools | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 45.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,217 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 15 of 23 categories. Hampton wins 15 and Washington wins 8. 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 Hampton to Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($219,800 vs $705,000 median home), income ($64,430 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hampton, VA and Washington, DC are about 134 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.