City comparison
No. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 150 in Jacksonville, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 155, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Jacksonville and Virginia Beach split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 88 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Jacksonville and Virginia Beach are 556 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $249 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $23,096 (33%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 88 points (59%).
The move
Virginia Beach and Jacksonville are 556 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $249 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $23,096 (25%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 150 in Jacksonville, up 88 points (142%).
Jacksonville, FL
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 Jacksonville and Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 15% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Jacksonville is 15% 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 $2,988, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
33% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 33% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 33% higher in Virginia Beach (about $23,096 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. Jacksonville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
59% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 59% lower than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
150 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 150 in Jacksonville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% 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. Jacksonville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
18% more comfortable
Jacksonville weather is 18% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Jacksonville
Winner73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 98/100
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Jacksonville averages about 73°F (80°F highs); Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 73°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. Jacksonville scores 18% 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
Jacksonville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,465 a month. Choose Jacksonville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Jacksonville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Virginia Beach on this page's weather index by 18%. Virginia Beach may pay more or cost less, but Jacksonville 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 33% 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 59% lower than Jacksonville (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Virginia Beach: Virginia Beach scores 75/100 versus 48/100 in Jacksonville, with typical rent at $1,714 versus $1,465. I would vet the exact ZIP in Jacksonville before trading 27 safety points for housing savings.
Jacksonville rent at $1,465/month is still below Virginia Beach's $1,714, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 73°F in Jacksonville and 59°F in Virginia Beach.
If safety drives your move, Virginia Beach is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 48/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Jacksonville, treat $1,465/month rent and $69,872 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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