Best Life Index › States › Virginia › Cities › Virginia Beach

Virginia city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Virginia Beach?

What it costs to live in Virginia Beach, and how it compares with other Virginia cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

47

52nd best value in Virginia

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Virginia cities.

Overall livability

36

64th overall in Virginia

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Virginia Beach is home to about 457,658 people. A typical home runs $295,900 and a household earns around $81,800, a price-to-income ratio of 3.6. Among Virginia's largest cities, it ranks 52nd for value and 64th overall.

Virginia Beach at a glance

Median home price

$295,900

39th in VA of 90

Median rent

$1,433/mo

Median household income

$81,800

Home price to income

3.6x

Unemployment

4.3%

46th in VA of 90

School rating

7/10

57th in VA of 90

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in VA of 90

Walk score

56/100

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‹ See all top Virginia cities ranked  ยท  Virginia state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Virginia only. Updated 2026.