Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Raleigh, NC
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 15 of 23 categories
Raleigh
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Rent averages $197/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,568)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $8,913/yr
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
81% less violent crime than Raleigh
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,913 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Raleigh
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 87.4°F
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$8,913
$87,544 vs $78,631/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
81% lower
92.3 vs 488.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $347,000⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,631 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.1% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 134⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.7% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.1" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.5" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 465,517 ✓ Larger | 457,900 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.1% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Raleigh's cost of living index is 98.0 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 15 of 23 categories. Raleigh 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 Raleigh to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,000 vs $343,700 median home), income ($78,631 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Raleigh, NC and Virginia Beach, VA are about 160 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.