Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 17 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Virginia Beach
Virginia
17
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.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $128k less ($215,500 vs $343,700)
Rent averages $318/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,568)
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $30,007/yr
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
90% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Households earn $30,007 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$128k less
$215,500 vs $343,700
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$30,007
$87,544 vs $57,537/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
90% lower
92.3 vs 908.7 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 457,900 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 17 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 6 and Virginia Beach wins 17. 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 Philadelphia to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $343,700 median home), income ($57,537 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Virginia Beach, VA are about 228 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.