City comparison
Yes. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 214 in Greensboro, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 235, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Greensboro is cheaper. Median rent is $1,172 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Virginia Beach and Greensboro split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 152 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 $1,172 in Greensboro.
Virginia Beach is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Greensboro makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Virginia Beach is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Greensboro at $1,172 average has pockets that run $972 and others at $1,572: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Virginia Beach and Greensboro are 219 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,172 a month in Greensboro, down $542 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $61,515 in Greensboro, down $31,453 (34%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 214 in Greensboro, up 152 points (245%).
The move
Greensboro and Virginia Beach are 219 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,172 a month in Greensboro to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $542 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $61,515 in Greensboro to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $31,453 (51%).
The crime index goes from 214 in Greensboro to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 152 points (71%).
Virginia Beach, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Greensboro, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Virginia Beach and Greensboro? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
Greensboro rent is 32% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Greensboro
Winner$1,172/mo
Typical rent runs $1,172 a month in Greensboro versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Greensboro is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $542/month back in your pocket ($6,504/year). Over five years that's $32,520 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 Virginia Beach, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Greensboro 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
51% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 51% higher than Greensboro
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Greensboro
$61,515
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $61,515 in Greensboro, so typical pay runs 51% higher in Virginia Beach (about $31,453 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. Greensboro can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
71% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 71% lower than Greensboro
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Greensboro
214 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 214 in Greensboro (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% 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. Greensboro can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
11% more comfortable
Virginia Beach weather is 11% more comfortable than Greensboro
Virginia Beach
Winner59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Greensboro
56°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 75/100
Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs); Greensboro averages about 56°F (67°F highs). Virginia Beach averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Greensboro averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Virginia Beach scores 11% 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 Greensboro 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 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 51% higher ($92,968), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 71% lower than Greensboro (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 Greensboro
Greensboro is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 32% cheaper here at about $1,172 a month. Choose Greensboro if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Greensboro carries the heavier crime signal on this page (37/100 safety vs 75/100 in Virginia Beach). That 38-point spread matters more than the $542 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Virginia Beach still pays more locally ($92,968 median income vs $61,515), which can offset the lease if your field pays Virginia Beach rates.
Median income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $61,515 in Greensboro.
Virginia Beach clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Greensboro deserves a serious look only when you already know the Greensboro block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Virginia Beach and Greensboro, plus other cities in VA and NC.
