City comparison
Yes. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 151 in Reno, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Reno is cheaper. Median rent is $1,556 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Virginia Beach and Reno split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 89 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 $1,556 in Reno.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Reno 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 Reno has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Virginia Beach and Reno are 2,364 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,556 a month in Reno, down $158 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $80,760 in Reno, down $12,208 (13%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 151 in Reno, up 89 points (144%).
The move
Reno and Virginia Beach are 2,364 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $158 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $12,208 (15%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 89 points (59%).
Virginia Beach, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Reno, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Virginia Beach and Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Reno rent is 9% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Reno
Winner$1,556/mo
Typical rent runs $1,556 a month in Reno versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Reno is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $158, or $1,896 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 Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 15% higher than Reno
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Reno
$80,760
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $80,760 in Reno, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Virginia Beach (about $12,208 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. Reno can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
59% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 59% lower than Reno
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Reno
151 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 151 in Reno (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% 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. Reno can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
11% more comfortable
Reno weather is 11% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Reno
Winner62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs); Reno averages about 62°F (71°F highs). Virginia Beach averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Reno averages around 62°F. Reno 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 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 15% 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 59% lower than Reno (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
Reno is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% cheaper here at about $1,556 a month. Choose Reno if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Reno if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (62°F) beat Virginia Beach on this page's weather index by 11%. Virginia Beach may pay more or cost less, but Reno 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 47/100 in Reno). Typical rent is $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,556 in Reno; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Reno rent at $1,556/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 62°F in Reno.
Virginia Beach is ahead on safety (75/100 vs 47/100); Reno is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,556/month rent plus $80,760 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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