City comparison
No. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Virginia Beach is cheaper. Median rent is $1,714 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
Safety is where Denver and Virginia Beach split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 209 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver and $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Virginia Beach costs less and Denver 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 Denver has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Denver and Virginia Beach are 1,579 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, down $117 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, down $1,750 (2%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 209 points (77%).
The move
Virginia Beach and Denver are 1,579 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $117 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $94,718 in Denver, up $1,750 (2%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 271 in Denver, up 209 points (337%).
Denver, CO
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 Denver and Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Virginia Beach rent is 6% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Virginia Beach
Winner$1,714/mo
Typical rent runs $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach versus $1,831 in Denver, so Virginia Beach is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $117, or $1,404 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
2% higher
Denver's median income is 2% higher than Virginia Beach
Denver
Winner$94,718
Virginia Beach
$92,968
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $92,968 in Virginia Beach, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Denver (about $1,750 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
77% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 77% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 77% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
11% more comfortable
Denver weather is 11% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Denver
Winner62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Virginia Beach averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Denver scores 11% 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 2% higher ($94,718), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 62°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 6% 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 77% lower than Denver (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 30/100 in Denver). Typical rent is $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,831 in Denver; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (75/100 in Virginia Beach vs 30/100 in Denver), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,831 in Denver.
Virginia Beach is ahead on safety (75/100 vs 30/100); Denver is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,831/month rent plus $94,718 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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