City comparison
Yes. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 132 in Arlington, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Arlington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,470 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Virginia Beach and Arlington split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 70 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 $1,470 in Arlington.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Arlington 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 Arlington has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Virginia Beach and Arlington are 1,229 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,470 a month in Arlington, down $244 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $75,171 in Arlington, down $17,797 (19%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 132 in Arlington, up 70 points (113%).
The move
Arlington and Virginia Beach are 1,229 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $244 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $17,797 (24%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 70 points (53%).
Virginia Beach, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Virginia Beach and Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Arlington rent is 14% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Arlington
Winner$1,470/mo
Typical rent runs $1,470 a month in Arlington versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Arlington 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 $2,928, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Arlington 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 Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 24% higher than Arlington
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Arlington
$75,171
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $75,171 in Arlington, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Virginia Beach (about $17,797 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. Arlington can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
53% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 53% lower than Arlington
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Arlington
132 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 132 in Arlington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% 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. Arlington can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Arlington weather is 20% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Arlington
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs); Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Virginia Beach averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Arlington sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Arlington 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
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 24% 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 53% lower than Arlington (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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Arlington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,470 a month. Choose Arlington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Arlington 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 Arlington is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Virginia Beach leads on safety (75/100 vs 52/100 in Arlington). Typical rent is $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,470 in Arlington; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Arlington rent at $1,470/month is still below Virginia Beach's $1,714, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Virginia Beach and 67°F in Arlington.
Virginia Beach is ahead on safety (75/100 vs 52/100); Arlington is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,470/month rent plus $75,171 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Virginia Beach and Arlington, plus other cities in VA and TX.
