Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Haven, CT
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 16 of 22 categories
New Haven
Connecticut
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736
Virginia Beach
Virginia
16
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.
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $107k less ($236,500 vs $343,700)
Rent averages $166/mo less ($1,402 vs $1,568)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $33,239/yr
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
83% less violent crime than New Haven
Households earn $33,239 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
New Haven
Median Home Value
$107k less
$236,500 vs $343,700
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$33,239
$87,544 vs $54,305/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
83% lower
92.3 vs 534.8 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.8% unemployment
Virginia Beach
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Haven, CT | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.6 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,500 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,402⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,305 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.6% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 153⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.7% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Haven School District | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,736 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.6% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Haven's cost of living index is 98.6 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 16 of 22 categories. New Haven wins 6 and Virginia Beach wins 16. 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 New Haven to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,500 vs $343,700 median home), income ($54,305 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Haven, CT and Virginia Beach, VA are about 355 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.