Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Reno, NV
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 18 of 23 categories
Reno
Nevada
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196
Virginia Beach
Virginia
18
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.
Reno, NV
Pros
Rent averages $208/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,568)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $14,471/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
83% less violent crime than Reno
Homes cost $118k less ($343,700 vs $462,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,471 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Reno
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 87.4°F
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$14,471
$87,544 vs $73,073/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
83% lower
92.3 vs 529.6 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Median Home Value
$118k less
$343,700 vs $462,100
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Reno, NV | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.8⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $462,100⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,073 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.8°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.2" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.3" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 265,196 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.3% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Reno's cost of living index is 102.8 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 18 of 23 categories. Reno wins 5 and Virginia Beach wins 18. 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 Reno to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($462,100 vs $343,700 median home), income ($73,073 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Reno, NV and Virginia Beach, VA are about 2,365 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.