Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 15 of 23 categories
Richmond
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
227,171
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.
Richmond, VA
Pros
Rent averages $341/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,568)
Homes cost $35k less ($308,300 vs $343,700)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $27,938/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
73% less violent crime than Richmond
Households earn $27,938 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.3%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Home Value
$35k less
$308,300 vs $343,700
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$27,938
$87,544 vs $59,606/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
73% lower
92.3 vs 336.9 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond'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. Richmond 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 Richmond to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($308,300 vs $343,700 median home), income ($59,606 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and Virginia Beach, VA are about 95 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.