Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Vancouver, WA
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 18 of 23 categories
Vancouver
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700
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.
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $13,918/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
84% less violent crime than Vancouver
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $13,918 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Homes cost $60k less ($343,700 vs $403,400)
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$13,918
$87,544 vs $73,626/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
84% lower
92.3 vs 582.3 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Median Home Value
$60k less
$343,700 vs $403,400
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.6% unemployment
Virginia Beach
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 80.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Vancouver, WA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $403,400⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,525⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,626 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 162⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evergreen School District (Clark) | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.9°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.4" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.2" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,700 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.9% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Vancouver's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 18 of 23 categories. Vancouver 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 Vancouver to Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($403,400 vs $343,700 median home), income ($73,626 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Vancouver, WA and Virginia Beach, VA are about 2,460 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.