Virginia Beach, VA, known as 'The Resort City,' offers a unique blend of coastal beauty and urban amenities. Located in southeastern Virginia, Virginia Beach is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Norfolk and Chesapeake enhance its status as a central point in the Hampton Roads region. Virginia Beach's blend of scenic beaches, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Virginia Beach is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, the First Landing State Park, and the historic Cape Henry Lighthouse. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Oceanfront to the bustling Town Center, known for its shopping and dining. Virginia Beach's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from fresh seafood to international cuisine.
Annual events such as the Neptune Festival and the American Music Festival highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Virginia Beach's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like Regent University and Virginia Wesleyan University contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Virginia Beach is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Sandler Center for the Performing Arts and the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Virginia Beach provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Virginia Beach’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Virginia Beach City FC (NPSL) and the Virginia Beach Neptunes (FCBL), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Virginia Beach include tourism, defense, and healthcare, with significant employers such as Sentara Healthcare and the Naval Air Station Oceana driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and light rail, making commuting convenient for residents.
Amenities
Conveniently located, the area boasts a variety of amenities, including grocery stores, shopping, coffee shops and entertainment options all within walking distance.
Crime
This area boasts a crime rate that is far below the national average, making it a very safe place to live. These crime statistics encompass both property and violent offenses.
Employment
With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.
Housing
Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.
Health & Safety
Accessible health facilities like hospitals, doctors offices, clinics and nursing homes as well as good air quality are all factors that have led to a high score in this category.
Commute
Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.
Virginia Beach, Virginia is a big city with a population of 450,882 residents. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Virginia Beach, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 24 minutes.
Without the right tools, relocating to any new city can be very stressful and challenging. Living in Virginia Beach, Virginia could be a good experience for anyone who puts in the time to do the research required. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is paramount, ensuring a secure environment for you and your family. Proximity to workplaces or schools reduces commuting time and enhances convenience. Access to amenities like parks, grocery stores and healthcare facilities contributes to a comfortable lifestyle. Reliable public transportation options promote easy mobility. A strong sense of community fosters social connections and a welcoming atmosphere. With useful information like amenities, crime, cost of living, health & safety, employment and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Virginia Beach and in the areas around Virginia Beach is a much easier task.
Using data and statistics Virginia Beach has received a livability score of 82 out of 100. This score is ranked in the 96th percentile when compared to all other cities. Pack your bags! This is a very high score in comparison to other US cities. Living in Virginia Beach could be a great choice! Virginia Beach also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities, which is no small feat! If we dig a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Virginia Beach has higher than average scores for the following: amenities (A+), crime (A), education (A+), employment (A-) and housing (A-).
If you're living in Virginia Beach, you can expect to enjoy a multitude of local amenities, mostly thanks to the strategic placement of essential services such as grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks and various shops. If you're contemplating a move to this locale with the intent of establishing it as your permanent residence, you'll be pleased to find an extensive array of amenities and recreational opportunities within easy reach, either on foot or via a brief commute. This wealth of accessible amenities not only enhances the livability of the area but also ensures that you can enjoy a rich and fulfilling lifestyle, making Virginia Beach an attractive destination for those seeking a vibrant and well-served community to call home. Some of the interesting things to do and attractions include: Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, First Landing State Park, and Old Cape Henry Lighthouse.
Ensuring a sense of security is paramount for the majority of residents in any area. Low crime rates exert a positive influence on various aspects, including home prices, rates of home appreciation and the cultivation of positive community dynamics and social cohesion. In the case of Virginia Beach, it boasts a notably low violent crime rate of 87 crimes per 100,000 residents, which significantly outperforms the national average.
Parents and families tend to prioritize school test scores when choosing educational institutions. Test score data can be a critical factor in evaluating and comparing schools. In Virginia Beach, the average school test scores are an impressive 86%, well above the national average. This achievement reflects the educational system's dedication to providing students with the essential knowledge and tools for success. It ensures that your children will receive the support and resources needed to excel academically and thrive in their educational pursuits.
A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Virginia Beach excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Virginia Beach is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Virginia Beach come in at $287,400, which is 15.7% higher than the Virginia average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Virginia Beach, the home price to income ratio is 3.7, which is 2.6% lower than the Virginia average.
| Statistic | Virginia Beach | Virginia | National |
| Average one way commute | 24min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 80.3% | 77.4% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.3% | 9.5% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.8% | 4.5% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 6.1% | 4.7% | 4.6% |
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