Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 12 of 23 categories
High Point
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,582
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
114,120
Virginia Beach
Virginia
12
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.
High Point, NC
Pros
Homes cost $147k less ($196,500 vs $343,700)
Rent averages $538/mo less ($1,030 vs $1,568)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Virginia Beach
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $28,962/yr
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
80% less violent crime than High Point
Households earn $28,962 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.3%)
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
Cost of living runs 5% higher than High Point
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Median Home Value
$147k less
$196,500 vs $343,700
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$28,962
$87,544 vs $58,582/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
80% lower
92.3 vs 454.8 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
High Point is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 12 of 23 categories. High Point wins 11 and Virginia Beach wins 12. 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 High Point to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $343,700 median home), income ($58,582 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Virginia Beach, VA are about 227 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.