City comparison
No. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Dallas and Virginia Beach split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 126 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Dallas and $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Dallas costs less and Virginia Beach 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 Dallas has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Dallas and Virginia Beach are 1,212 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $242 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $22,450 (32%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 126 points (67%).
The move
Virginia Beach and Dallas are 1,212 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $242 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $70,518 in Dallas, down $22,450 (24%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 188 in Dallas, up 126 points (203%).
Dallas, 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 Dallas and Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Dallas rent is 14% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Dallas is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,904, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Dallas still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Virginia Beach.
Planning to buy in Dallas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
32% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 32% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Virginia Beach (about $22,450 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Virginia Beach is the stronger labor market on paper. Dallas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
67% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 67% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 67% 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. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Dallas weather is 20% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Dallas
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°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. Dallas 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Dallas if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (67°F) beat Virginia Beach on this page's weather index by 20%. Virginia Beach may pay more or cost less, but Dallas is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Virginia Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 32% higher here ($92,968). Start with Virginia Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 67% lower than Dallas (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
Dallas carries the heavier crime signal on this page (41/100 safety vs 75/100 in Virginia Beach). That 34-point spread matters more than the $242 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Dallas rent at $1,472/month is still below Virginia Beach's $1,714, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 67°F in Dallas and 59°F in Virginia Beach.
If safety drives your move, Virginia Beach is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 41/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Dallas, treat $1,472/month rent and $70,518 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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