Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tempe, AZ
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 13 of 22 categories
Tempe
Arizona
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005
Virginia Beach
Virginia
13
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.
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 50°F
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $96/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,568)
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $15,522/yr
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
80% less violent crime than Tempe
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $15,522 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 106°F
Homes cost $38k less ($343,700 vs $382,100)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Tempe
Summer Heat
18.5°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 87.4°F
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$15,522
$87,544 vs $72,022/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
80% lower
92.3 vs 470.3 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Median Home Value
$38k less
$343,700 vs $382,100
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.9 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $382,100⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,022 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.8% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tempe School District (4258) | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,005 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.7% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.4% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tempe's cost of living index is 99.9 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 13 of 22 categories. Tempe wins 9 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 Tempe to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,100 vs $343,700 median home), income ($72,022 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tempe, AZ and Virginia Beach, VA are about 2,032 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.