Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 12 of 23 categories
Mesa
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Virginia Beach
Virginia
12
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.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $216/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,568)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 50°F
Homes cost $16k less ($327,700 vs $343,700)
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $13,778/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
81% less violent crime than Mesa
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $13,778 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 106°F
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Median Home Value
$16k less
$327,700 vs $343,700
Mesa
Summer Heat
18.5°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 87.4°F
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$13,778
$87,544 vs $73,766/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
81% lower
92.3 vs 482.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 457,900 |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 12 of 23 categories. Mesa 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 Mesa to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $343,700 median home), income ($73,766 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and Virginia Beach, VA are about 2,019 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.