City comparison
Yes. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 99 in Irving, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 78, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Irving is cheaper. Median rent is $1,619 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Virginia Beach and Irving split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 37 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 $1,619 in Irving.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Irving 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 Irving has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Virginia Beach and Irving are 1,219 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,619 a month in Irving, down $95 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $81,830 in Irving, down $11,138 (12%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 99 in Irving, up 37 points (60%).
The move
Irving and Virginia Beach are 1,219 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $95 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $11,138 (14%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 37 points (37%).
Virginia Beach, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irving, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Virginia Beach and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Irving rent is 6% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Irving
Winner$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,619 a month in Irving versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Irving is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $95, or $1,140 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 Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 14% higher than Irving
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Irving
$81,830
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $81,830 in Irving, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Virginia Beach (about $11,138 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. Irving can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
37% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 37% lower than Irving
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Irving
99 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 99 in Irving (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 37% 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. Irving can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Irving weather is 20% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Irving
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Virginia Beach averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Irving sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving 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 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 37% lower than Irving (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
Irving is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,619 a month. Choose Irving if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Irving if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (70°F) beat Virginia Beach on this page's weather index by 20%. Virginia Beach may pay more or cost less, but Irving is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Irving carries the heavier crime signal on this page (60/100 safety vs 75/100 in Virginia Beach). That 15-point spread matters more than the $95 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (75/100 in Virginia Beach vs 60/100 in Irving), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $81,830 in Irving.
If safety drives your move, Virginia Beach is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 60/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Irving, treat $1,619/month rent and $81,830 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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