Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 13 of 23 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Virginia Beach
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
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.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $182k less ($162,000 vs $343,700)
Rent averages $651/mo less ($917 vs $1,568)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Virginia Beach
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $36,021/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
85% less violent crime than Roanoke
Households earn $36,021 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
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
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Roanoke
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$182k less
$162,000 vs $343,700
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$36,021
$87,544 vs $51,523/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
85% lower
92.3 vs 620.4 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.2% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 13 of 23 categories. Roanoke wins 10 and Virginia Beach wins 13. 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 Roanoke to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $343,700 median home), income ($51,523 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Virginia Beach, VA are about 219 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.