City comparison
No. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Virginia Beach is cheaper. Median rent is $1,714 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
Safety is where Austin and Virginia Beach split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 100 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Virginia Beach costs less and Austin pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Virginia Beach has rougher pockets and Austin has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Austin and Virginia Beach are 1,330 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, down $15 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, down $690 (1%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 100 points (62%).
The move
Virginia Beach and Austin are 1,330 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $15 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $93,658 in Austin, up $690 (1%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 162 in Austin, up 100 points (161%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Virginia Beach, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Virginia Beach rent is 1% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Virginia Beach
Winner$1,714/mo
Typical rent runs $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach versus $1,729 in Austin, so Virginia Beach is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $15, or $180 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Austin's median income is 1% higher than Virginia Beach
Austin
Winner$93,658
Virginia Beach
$92,968
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $92,968 in Virginia Beach, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Austin (about $690 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
62% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% lower in Virginia Beach. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Virginia Beach is the easier city. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Austin weather is 20% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Virginia Beach averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Austin scores 20% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Virginia Beach if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 1% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Virginia Beach is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,714 a month. Choose Virginia Beach if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Virginia Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 62% lower than Austin (62 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Virginia Beach leads on safety (75/100 vs 45/100 in Austin). With rent tied near $1,714/month, do not assume either lease buys the calmer blocks.
Median income is $93,658 in Austin versus $92,968 in Virginia Beach — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Virginia Beach; Austin only makes sense when you have walked the Austin ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,729 rent.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Austin and 59°F in Virginia Beach.
Common questions
Ready to move to Virginia Beach?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Virginia Beach when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Virginia Beach, plus other cities in TX and VA.
