The Town FilesVirginia Beach, Virginia
City in Virginia Beach city · population 459,470 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $382,500
- Household income
- $92,968
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 37.9
Virginia Beach is a city of 459,470 people in Virginia Beach city, Virginia. The median home is worth $382,500, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more seaside character than 95% of Virginia towns, better for a vacation home than 91% of Virginia towns, more vibrant than 88% of Virginia towns.
How Virginia Beach ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Virginia Beach is worth $382,500, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $92,968, which is more affordable than 37% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,714 a month. 65.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Virginia Beach | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $382,500 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,714 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $92,968 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 65.1% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Virginia Beach
| People | Virginia Beach | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.9% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.9% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 15.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.2% | — |
| Work from home | 14.3% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 23.4 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 91.8% |
Weather in Virginia Beach
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 31.6°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 50 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Virginia Beach since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 30, 2023 about 7.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 30, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 31, 2017.
Severe weather in Virginia Beach city since 1996
Virginia Beach city has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| November 2, 2016 | Hurricane | DR-4291: Hurricane Matthew |
Jobs and pay in Virginia Beach city
Virginia Beach city had 179,013 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,981 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Virginia Beach itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Virginia Beach
89 public schools with 64,986 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landstown High | 9-12 | 2,212 | 17.3 |
| Kempsville High | 9-12 | 2,051 | 17.7 |
| Bayside High | 9-12 | 1,990 | 16.6 |
| Floyd Kellam High | 9-12 | 1,892 | 18.0 |
| Tallwood High | 9-12 | 1,875 | 16.2 |
| Ocean Lakes High | 9-12 | 1,814 | 15.8 |
| First Colonial High | 9-12 | 1,732 | 17.1 |
| Princess Anne High | 9-12 | 1,715 | 14.7 |
| Salem High | 9-12 | 1,675 | 15.4 |
| Frank W. Cox High | 9-12 | 1,648 | 16.3 |
| Larkspur Middle | 6-8 | 1,483 | 15.3 |
| Green Run High | 9-12 | 1,444 | 15.2 |
Towns near Virginia Beach
- Norfolk, VA15.5 mi · 238,005 people · home $289,900
- Chesapeake, VA16.6 mi · 249,422 people · home $378,400
- Portsmouth, VA19.0 mi · 97,915 people · home $246,900
- Moyock, NC20.8 mi · 5,154 people · home $405,100
- Hampton, VA23.7 mi · 137,148 people · home $245,700
- Poquoson, VA28.5 mi · 12,460 people · home $400,300
- Carrollton, VA29.4 mi · 7,498 people · home $423,900
Virginia Beach questions
Is Virginia Beach, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Virginia Beach scores better for retirees than 22% of Virginia towns and quieter than 17%. 15.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Virginia Beach?
The median owner-occupied home in Virginia Beach is valued at $382,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,968, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,714 a month.
What is the weather like in Virginia Beach?
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 31.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 3.4 inches of snow.
Does Virginia Beach get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Virginia Beach since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 30, 2023. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)