Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orlando, FL
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 15 of 23 categories
Orlando
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738
Virginia Beach
Virginia
15
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.
Orlando, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 50°F
Cons
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $21,252/yr
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
89% less violent crime than Orlando
Households earn $21,252 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Orlando
Median Home Value
$11k less
$332,700 vs $343,700
Orlando
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 87.4°F
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 101.1 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$21,252
$87,544 vs $66,292/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
89% lower
92.3 vs 835.8 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $332,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,509⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,292 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.4% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,738 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.2% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orlando's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 15 of 23 categories. Orlando wins 8 and Virginia Beach wins 15. 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 Orlando to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($332,700 vs $343,700 median home), income ($66,292 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orlando, FL and Virginia Beach, VA are about 653 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.