Durham, NC vs Virginia Beach, VA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Durham
69.4
#1213 nationally
Virginia Beach
73.6
#714 nationally
Virginia Beach leads in median household income ($87,544 vs $67,432). Durham leads in cost of living index (102 vs 120). Durham leads in average commute (22.8 min vs 23.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Durham, NC | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.4 (#1213) | 73.6 (#714) |
| Population | 283,506 | 453,649 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $395,976 | $430,374 |
| Median Household Income | $67,432 | $87,544 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 23.5 min |
| Walk Score | 33 | 33 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 2.5 |
| School Rating | 6.4 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 102 | 120 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+61.9 | D+2.6 |
D+
69.4 Score
Durham, NC
Bull City innovation and inclusion
Median Home
$395,976
Population
283,506
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B-
Southeast
View Durham, NC →
C
73.6 Score
Virginia Beach, VA
Growing Virginia city with expanding opportunities
Median Home
$430,374
Population
453,649
Crime
Low
Walk Score
33
Northeast
View Virginia Beach, VA →
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