Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 18 of 23 categories
Riverside
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076
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.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
84% less violent crime than Riverside
Homes cost $142k less ($343,700 vs $485,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 87.4°F
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$4,096
$87,544 vs $83,448/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
84% lower
92.3 vs 589.7 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Median Home Value
$142k less
$343,700 vs $485,500
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $1,568⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 18 of 23 categories. Riverside 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 Riverside to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $343,700 median home), income ($83,448 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Virginia Beach, VA are about 2,321 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.