Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 18 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992
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.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $232k less ($111,400 vs $343,700)
Rent averages $573/mo less ($995 vs $1,568)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $43,388/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
Households earn $43,388 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 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
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Median Home Value
$232k less
$111,400 vs $343,700
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.7 on the COL index
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$43,388
$87,544 vs $44,156/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
84% lower
92.3 vs 582.3 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.5% unemployment
Virginia Beach
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 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 | 155⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 18 of 23 categories. Rochester 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 Rochester to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $343,700 median home), income ($44,156 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Virginia Beach, VA are about 449 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.