City comparison
No. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 223 in Washington, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 243, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Virginia Beach is cheaper. Median rent is $1,714 a month versus $1,954 in Washington.
Safety is where Washington and Virginia Beach split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 161 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,954 in Washington and $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Washington 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 crime gap is citywide. Virginia Beach has rougher pockets and Washington has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Washington and Virginia Beach are 152 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,954 a month in Washington to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, down $240 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $109,870 in Washington to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, down $16,902 (15%).
The crime index goes from 223 in Washington to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 161 points (72%).
The move
Virginia Beach and Washington are 152 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,954 a month in Washington, up $240 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $109,870 in Washington, up $16,902 (18%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 223 in Washington, up 161 points (260%).
Washington, DC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Virginia Beach, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Washington and Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Virginia Beach rent is 12% cheaper than Washington
Washington
$1,954/mo
Virginia Beach
Winner$1,714/mo
Typical rent runs $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach versus $1,954 in Washington, so Virginia Beach 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 $2,880, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Virginia Beach still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Washington.
Planning to buy in Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Washington's median income is 18% higher than Virginia Beach
Washington
Winner$109,870
Virginia Beach
$92,968
Median household income is $109,870 in Washington versus $92,968 in Virginia Beach, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Washington (about $16,902 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, Washington is the stronger labor market on paper. Virginia Beach can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
72% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 72% lower than Washington
Washington
223 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 223 in Washington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 72% 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. Washington 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 Washington
Washington
56°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 75/100
Virginia Beach
Winner59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Washington averages about 56°F (63°F highs); Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs). Washington averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Virginia Beach averages around 59°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 Washington 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
Washington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($109,870). Start with Washington if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Virginia Beach is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,714 a month. Choose Virginia Beach if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Virginia Beach if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (59°F) beat Washington on this page's weather index by 11%. Washington may pay more or cost less, but Virginia Beach is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 72% lower than Washington (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.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Virginia Beach: Virginia Beach scores 75/100 versus 36/100 in Washington, with typical rent at $1,714 versus $1,954. I would vet the exact ZIP in Washington before trading 39 safety points for housing savings.
Virginia Beach rent at $1,714/month is still below Washington's $1,954, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,954 in Washington.
Virginia Beach clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Washington deserves a serious look only when you already know the Washington block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Washington and Virginia Beach, plus other cities in DC and VA.
