Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Shreveport, LA
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 12 of 22 categories
Shreveport
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183
Virginia Beach
Virginia
12
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.
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($168,900 vs $343,700)
Rent averages $623/mo less ($945 vs $1,568)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Virginia Beach
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 50°F
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $41,577/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
Households earn $41,577 more per year on average
92% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 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
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Shreveport
Key Differences at a Glance
Shreveport
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$175k less
$168,900 vs $343,700
Shreveport
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 87.4°F
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$41,577
$87,544 vs $45,967/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
92% lower
92.3 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Shreveport, LA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $168,900 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $945 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $45,967 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 270⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 323⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.6% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Caddo Parish | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,183 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.1% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Shreveport's cost of living index is 87.1 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 12 of 22 categories. Shreveport wins 10 and Virginia Beach wins 12. 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 Shreveport to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,900 vs $343,700 median home), income ($45,967 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Shreveport, LA and Virginia Beach, VA are about 1,051 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.