Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tacoma, WA
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 20 of 23 categories
Tacoma
Washington
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Virginia Beach
Virginia
20
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.
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Rent averages $79/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,568)
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Virginia Beach
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
91% less violent crime than Tacoma
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $72k less ($343,700 vs $415,300)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$8,459
$87,544 vs $79,085/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
91% lower
92.3 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Median Home Value
$72k less
$343,700 vs $415,300
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Virginia Beach
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tacoma, WA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $415,300⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,085 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 280⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.8% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.9% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tacoma School District | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.6" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 219,234 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.8% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tacoma's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 20 of 23 categories. Tacoma wins 3 and Virginia Beach wins 20. 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 Tacoma to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($415,300 vs $343,700 median home), income ($79,085 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tacoma, WA and Virginia Beach, VA are about 2,451 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.