City comparison
Yes. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Virginia Beach and Durham split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 131 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 $1,508 in Durham.
This is a genuine split. Virginia Beach wins on the job market and safety and Durham wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Virginia Beach has rougher pockets and Durham has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Virginia Beach and Durham are 173 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $206 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $81,619 in Durham, down $11,349 (12%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 193 in Durham, up 131 points (211%).
The move
Durham and Virginia Beach are 173 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $206 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $11,349 (14%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 131 points (68%).
Virginia Beach, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Virginia Beach and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Durham rent is 12% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Durham is 12% 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 $2,472, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Durham 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 Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 14% higher than Durham
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Durham
$81,619
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Virginia Beach (about $11,349 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. Durham can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
68% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 68% lower than Durham
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 68% 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. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Virginia Beach and Durham are about even on typical weather.
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Virginia Beach averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
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 14% 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 68% lower than Durham (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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Durham
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,508 a month. Choose Durham if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Virginia Beach leads on safety (75/100 vs 40/100 in Durham). Typical rent is $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,508 in Durham; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Virginia Beach still pays more locally ($92,968 median income vs $81,619), which can offset the lease if your field pays Virginia Beach rates.
Median income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $81,619 in Durham.
Virginia Beach is ahead on safety (75/100 vs 40/100); Durham is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,508/month rent plus $81,619 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Virginia Beach and Durham, plus other cities in VA and NC.
