City comparison
Yes. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 143 in Anaheim, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 165, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Virginia Beach is cheaper. Median rent is $1,714 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
Safety is where Virginia Beach and Anaheim split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 81 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $2,175 in Anaheim.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Virginia Beach costs less and Anaheim 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Virginia Beach at $1,714 average has pockets that run $1,514 and others at $2,114: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Virginia Beach and Anaheim are 2,354 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $461 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $2,259 (2%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 143 in Anaheim, up 81 points (131%).
The move
Anaheim and Virginia Beach are 2,354 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, down $461 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, down $2,259 (2%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 81 points (57%).
Virginia Beach, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Virginia Beach and Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Virginia Beach rent is 21% cheaper than Anaheim
Virginia Beach
Winner$1,714/mo
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Typical rent runs $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Virginia Beach is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $461/month back in your pocket ($5,532/year). Over five years that's $27,660 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Anaheim, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Virginia Beach is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Anaheim's median income is 2% higher than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
$92,968
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $92,968 in Virginia Beach, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Anaheim (about $2,259 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
57% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 57% lower than Anaheim
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Anaheim
143 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 143 in Anaheim (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% 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. Anaheim can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Anaheim weather is 20% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Anaheim
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs); Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs). Virginia Beach averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Anaheim sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anaheim 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
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 21% 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 57% lower than Anaheim (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.
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 ($95,227), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
Anaheim carries the heavier crime signal on this page (49/100 safety vs 75/100 in Virginia Beach). That 26-point spread matters more than the $461 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Anaheim still pays more locally ($95,227 median income vs $92,968), which can offset the lease if your field pays Anaheim rates.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Virginia Beach and 76°F in Anaheim.
Virginia Beach clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Anaheim deserves a serious look only when you already know the Anaheim block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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