Firstly why Virginia-Beach, Virginia?

I’ll start with some quick stats and an overview:

• City: Virginia-Beach
• State: Virginia
• Population: 450,189 people
• Virginia-Beach’s quick summary would be Famous for its long stretches of sandy beaches, the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, and vibrant beachfront activities.

Some people I know rave about this place, others say it’s on the upswing or going through changes. Check out these migration details:

• How many people move-in: 35,000 annually
• While this many move-out: 25,000 annually
• Net Migration: 10000 more people in (net) annual change
• Non-Citizen Move-in: 8,000
• Number of Homeless people: 600

You might wonder why people choose to move here, I’d say generally because it features beautiful beaches and a strong tourism industry attracting families and tourists

Perk #1: Virginia-Beach Demographic Mix & Lifestyle

• The percentage of Residents Age 30–50 is about 36%
• Percentage of Home Ownership is hovering around 62%
• Largest Local Ethnic Group is Black
• The 2nd Largest Ethnic Group is mostly White
• The median income is (and growing)  $74,000
• Income Required to Live Comfortably in Virginia-Beach is $70,000
• Average Extra Spending Money after paying bills yearly is approx. $-4000 in negative cash flow

This and any cities local population can be a real melting pot—or sometimes it’s more homogeneous, depending on the area. Ask yourself: would you enjoy a bustling community with diverse backgrounds, or do you prefer a quieter, tight-knit vibe?

Perk #2: Housing & Virginia-Beach’s Cost of Living

• Cost of Living Index: 100 (100 is the US average)
• Annual Property Tax Per House: $3,451
• Property Tax %: 1%
• Rent for an average 2BD Apartment: $1,350
• Rent for an average house: $2,300
• Popular and Expensive Neighborhood: Oceanfront
• Top 5 Growing Areas: Virginia-Beach, Sandbridge, Oceanfront, Pungo, and probably could include Plaza-Midwood
• Avg. Age of Homes in Virginia-Beach: 43 years
• The Percentage of Realtors per 100 people here: 1.9%

If the cost-of-living index is low, you might find a place without selling your kidney. If it’s high, well, you’ll need to budget carefully. Some income earners thrive in pricey markets, others prefer less financially stressful areas.

Perk #3: Job Market & Virginia-Beach’s Economy

• 3 Industries gaining traction in Virginia-Beach are  Tourism, Military, and Retail
• Virginia-Beach Job Scene: strong job market primarily in military and tourism
• The General Tech Scene: growing tech presence centered around tourism and technology services , ,
• Virginia-Beach Resident’s pay $1,400 in City Tax alone!
• Local Sales Tax in Virginia-Beach: 6%
• No. of Independent Businesses: 200 (excluding chains and corporates)
• Number of Local Branch Banks: 12

Maybe you’re a go-getter in finance, tech, or healthcare. Or you’d rather open a mom-and-pop shop. Either way, it’s worth checking if the local industries align with your skill set—or if you’re game to try something new.

Perk #4: Transportation & Commuting in Virginia-Beach

• Monthly Transportation Costs: $110 on average per person
• Freeway Access: I-264 provides access to Virginia Beach from Norfolk
• Commute Time: 28 minutes (public & private)
• Main Evening Traffic Area: evening congestion near the oceanfront
• Transportation Score: 55 out of 100 described as Good Transit
• No. of Vehicles Registered in Virginia-Beach: 180,000
• Cars registered per Person: 0.4
• No. of Car Washes: 10 in and around the city
• DMV Website for Virginia-Beach: dmv.virginia.gov
• The Bike-Friendly Score: 67 of 100
• Local Airport: Norfolk International

Is a 15-minute commute your dream, or is 45 minutes stuck on the freeway a dealbreaker? If you can handle traffic or love public transit, this might be perfect. If not, brace yourself with a killer podcast lineup.

Perk #5: Virginia-Beach’s Weather & Natural Factors

• The Most Common Natural Disaster is Hurricanes
• General Weather in Virginia-Beach is best described as hot humid summers mild winters with rainfall
• Winter Weather in Virginia-Beach i’d describe as cold with some rain
• Spring Weather in Virginia-Beach can be described as mild and rainy
• Summer’s in Virginia-Beach are mostly warm and humid
• Fall ( the nicest time) in Virginia-Beach is usually mild and pleasant
• How many days in a row over 90°F: 21 days in summer
• Days in a row in Virginia-Beach below Freezing: 1
• Average Annual Rainfall: 43 inches
• Summer Air Quality is usually good air quality maintained largely through coastal position
• Virginia-Beach Winter Air generally good air quality but can fluctuate

Do you live for sunny skies? Or maybe you can’t stand humidity. Some relish snowy winters; others run south at the first snowflake. And if hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes are part of the package, put all that into your consideration matrix.

Perk #6: Virginia-Beach Education & Schools

• The GreatSchools.org City Rating:
• Number of Colleges and Universities in Virginia-Beach 8
• While the number of trade schools inside Virginia-Beachs’s city limits are 7
• Library that I have visited and enjoyed is the Virginia Beach Public Library

If you’ve got kids—or you’re looking to further your own education—solid school ratings and local colleges can be a huge perk. If not, hey, a good library have more gems that you didn’t know existed, check it out.

Perk #7: Healthcare & Virginia-Beach Stats

• Typical EMS Response Time: 9 minutes
• Registered Full-Time Virginia-Beach only Doctors is about 150
• Local Hospitals here is  6
• Full-time Virginia-Beach only Police Officers is about 680
• Crime Rate Index: 25/100

Medical facilities could be important to you and who knows it could be related to the crime stats. Again some stats that are worth considering.

Perk #8: Utilities, Gyms & Water Quality

• Virginia-Beach’s Monthly utility bill average is $110
• Virginia-Beach’s Monthly Gym Membership: $60
• Virginia-Beach’s Water Quality Score: 76

Some of us freak out if water tastes off, others don’t mind. Gym buffs will appreciate a cheap membership; others prefer running outside for free. Check if these monthly costs fit inside your realistic lifestyle.

Perk #9: Events, Festivals & Vibe in Virginia-Beach

• Approx number of Festivals the city puts on is 15 annually
• The General Local City Vibe: coastal city known for its beaches and tourist attractions
• You might enjoy shows at the Virginia Beach Convention Center
• Nightlife Scene (yes this is completely subjective), Virginia-Beach  offers a vibrant nightlife with beach clubs bars and restaurants located along the beautiful coast

If you love a lively social calendar—fairs, concerts, maybe the odd chili cook-off—this is your jam. If crowds make you itch, you might only show up for the funnel cakes.

Perk #10: The Food, Sports & Culture of Virginia-Beach

• The Objective Restaurant Scene Includes a rich dining scene with many seafood options
• The Number of Independent Restaurants are 120 scattered around Virginia-Beach
• The Popular Sports Team is Virginia Beach Neptune
• Top Level Political Climate in Virginia-Beach can be described as politically mixed coastal city with a tourism emphasis
• Virginia-Beach’s Longer standing religious establishment is Virginia Beach United Methodist Church

Whether you’re a foodie wanting fancy cuisine or a sports nut who can’t miss the local team’s home game, see if your interests line up with what the city offers.

Perk #11: Virginia-Beach Parks & Green Spaces

• Did you know Virginia-Beach has 100 Parks?
• Fort Story Beach is Virginia-Beach’s Green Space Center
• The local favorite Farmers Market is Virginia Beach Farmers Market normally open Friday 8am-1pm
• Outdoor Activities that both weekend warriors are pro’s can enjoy are Hiking, beach activities, and water sports

Love fresh air? A city investing in parks and markets can be a sanity-saver. If you prefer the indoors, maybe it’s less of a draw—but I still say fresh produce is never a bad thing.

Perk #12: Virginia-Beach Neighborhoods Pace & Proximity

• The Pace of Life in Virginia-Beach can be described as relaxed coastal life with a focus on tourism and outdoor activities
• 3 Family-Friendly Activities anyone can enjoy in Virginia-Beach beach activities hiking nature trails community picnics
• The Cities people commute to from Virginia-Beach are Blacksburg 10 miles away Radford 12 miles away Pulaski 29 miles away

Neighborhood pace can range from laid-back suburbs to frantic downtown vibes. If you need a quick getaway, big neighboring cities can scratch that itch for a weekend change of scene.

8 Drawbacks about Virginia-Beach or are they?

No place is perfect. I rate these as important based on your location and type of work you do. They might not be negatives or positives for everyone.

1. Traffic/Commute Issues
   Maybe you read: evening congestion near the oceanfront. If you hate gridlock, look at alternative routes or brace yourself with podcasts.
2. Natural Disaster or Extreme Weather
   Virginia-Beach’s Hurricanes risk could be minimal or major. Dig more on that is your eyebrow just went up.
3. Pricey Neighborhoods
   If Oceanfront is out of your price point, you might consider these places nearby Virginia-Beach are Blacksburg 10 miles away Radford 12 miles away Pulaski 29 miles away.
4. Crime Rate Concerns
   With a 25 of 100, some neighborhoods might feel safer than others. Everyone has a different tolerance for this.
5. Harsh Climate Contrasts
   Virginia-Beach has 1 days in a row below freezing and 21 days above 90 degrees. This might be your heaven or your nightmare. Some people can’t stand snow, while others pray for it.
6. Limited Extra Funds
   After general costs of living here in Virginia-Beach people have an average (positive or negative) $-4000 in negative cash flow left over in income to spend or pay off. Economics will make or break you here.
7. Homelessness or Social Challenges
   600 homeless people living in Virginia-Beach. It can be tough for the community—no easy solutions.
8. Cultural/Political Mismatch
   The general politically mixed coastal city with a tourism emphasis could change but probably not quickly. We all go thru cycles in our lifestyle and outlook. Think about this and your future outlook before a move to Virginia-Beach.

Retiree & Senior Life in Virginia-Beach

• Retiree Tax Benefits say seniors can may receive financial support through property tax assistance programs
• The most established Senior Citizen Community is The Waterford
• Virginia Beach Senior Center offers wellness programs social activities and recreational resources for seniors

If you’re in (or nearing) retirement, see if the city provides property tax breaks or comfy 55+ communities. Some places cater heavily to seniors, others less so.

Moving to Virginia-Beach, Virginia?

If Virginia-Beach, Virginia ir your next home or you are packing up, Let Allied Van Lines Help

As someone who’s hauled half his life across state lines more times than I can recall, let me say that Allied Van Lines simplifies the process. From big bulky couches to fragile antiques, they’ve got you covered.

A quick quote or phone call might be all you need to turn your daydream into reality. If you see me around Virginia-Beach, Virginia, say hi—I’m the guy who once moved with nothing but a backpack and a guitar. Good luck on your new adventure!