City comparison
No. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Nashville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,586 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Nashville and Virginia Beach split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 220 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,586 in Nashville and $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Nashville 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 Nashville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Nashville and Virginia Beach are 602 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $128 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $15,597 (20%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 220 points (78%).
The move
Virginia Beach and Nashville are 602 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,586 a month in Nashville, down $128 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $77,371 in Nashville, down $15,597 (17%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 282 in Nashville, up 220 points (355%).
Nashville, TN
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 Nashville and Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Nashville rent is 7% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Nashville
Winner$1,586/mo
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Typical rent runs $1,586 a month in Nashville versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Nashville is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $128, or $1,536 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 Nashville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 20% higher than Nashville
Nashville
$77,371
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $77,371 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Virginia Beach (about $15,597 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. Nashville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
78% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 78% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 78% 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. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
17% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 17% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Nashville
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Virginia Beach averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Nashville scores 17% 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
Nashville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,586 a month. Choose Nashville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Nashville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (64°F) beat Virginia Beach on this page's weather index by 17%. Virginia Beach may pay more or cost less, but Nashville 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 20% 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 78% lower than Nashville (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 28/100 in Nashville). Typical rent is $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,586 in Nashville; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Nashville rent at $1,586/month is still below Virginia Beach's $1,714, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 64°F in Nashville and 59°F in Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach is ahead on safety (75/100 vs 28/100); Nashville is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,586/month rent plus $77,371 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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