Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Virginia Beach, VA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 16 of 23 categories
Virginia Beach
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
83% less violent crime than Yakima
Households earn $31,810 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 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 40°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Yakima, WA
Pros
Rent averages $554/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,568)
Homes cost $100k less ($243,300 vs $343,700)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $31,810/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 4.3%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Virginia Beach
Key Differences at a Glance
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$31,810
$87,544 vs $55,734/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
83% lower
92.3 vs 544.3 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Median Home Value
$100k less
$243,300 vs $343,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Virginia Beach, VA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $343,700⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,568⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,544 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 24 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.8% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.7" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 457,900 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Virginia Beach's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 16 of 23 categories. Virginia Beach wins 16 and Yakima wins 7. 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 Virginia Beach to Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($343,700 vs $243,300 median home), income ($87,544 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Virginia Beach, VA and Yakima, WA are about 2,361 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.