Charleston, SC vs Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Beach, VA comes out ahead of Charleston, SC on 25 of 33 statistics where one end is better, to 8. Virginia Beach, VA leads on Crime & Safety and Economics.
33 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 8
- Avg. percentile
- 53
- Categories led
- 0
- Wins
- 25
- Avg. percentile
- 64
- Categories led
- 2
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.
| Statistic | Charleston, SC | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 161,314 161st of 477 | 452,271 42nd of 477 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $92,414 106th of 434 | $92,968 104th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $509,700 329th of 434 | $382,500 262nd of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 12.3% 160th of 434 | 8.59% 87th of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 101.0 278th of 460 | 97.9 tied 205th of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $64,260 260th of 460 | $64,130 tied 263rd of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,722 311th of 434 | $1,714 310th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 279.9 142nd of 395 | 96.7 39th of 395 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Crime & SafetyVirginia Beach, VA · 5 statistics
- EconomicsVirginia Beach, VA · 14 statistics
Biggest differences
The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.
| Statistic | Charleston, SC | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 279.9 142nd of 395 | 96.7 39th of 395 |
| Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 6.3 271st of 395 | 3.3 189th of 395 |
| Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 119.8 314th of 460 | 99.8 tied 217th of 460 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 58.3% 65th of 434 | 40.9% 148th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 12.3% 160th of 434 | 8.59% 87th of 434 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 92.8% 162nd of 434 | 94.4% 95th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $509,700 329th of 434 | $382,500 262nd of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 101.0 278th of 460 | 97.9 tied 205th of 460 |
| Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 107.9 77th of 395 | 60.9 29th of 395 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 143.1 148th of 395 | 99.2 103rd of 395 |
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 88.2 168th of 460 | 89.6 tied 211th of 460 |
| Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 1,603.3 168th of 395 | 1,454.2 138th of 395 |
| Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 96.3 tied 223rd of 460 | 96.8 tied 257th of 460 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 24.2 264th of 434 | 23.4 242nd of 434 |
| Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 98.3 tied 140th of 460 | 98.6 tied 153rd of 460 |
| Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $49,150 249th of 460 | $49,430 tied 236th of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $64,260 260th of 460 | $64,130 tied 263rd of 460 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $92,414 106th of 434 | $92,968 104th of 434 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,722 311th of 434 | $1,714 310th of 434 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Charleston, SC or Virginia Beach, VA?
- Virginia Beach, VA comes out ahead of Charleston, SC on 25 of 33 statistics where one end is better, to 8. Virginia Beach, VA leads on Crime & Safety and Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Charleston, SC or Virginia Beach, VA?
- Charleston, SC has a population of 161,314 (161st of 477 US cities) and Virginia Beach, VA has 452,271 (42nd of 477).
- How do Charleston, SC and Virginia Beach, VA compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Charleston, SC $92,414 (106th of 434), Virginia Beach, VA $92,968 (104th of 434) among US cities. Virginia Beach, VA ranks better.
- How do Charleston, SC and Virginia Beach, VA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
- Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Charleston, SC $509,700 (329th of 434), Virginia Beach, VA $382,500 (262nd of 434) among US cities. Virginia Beach, VA ranks better.
- Where does Charleston, SC beat Virginia Beach, VA most clearly?
- Charleston, SC ranks far ahead on Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 58.3% vs 40.9%; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 88.2 vs 89.6; Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 96.3 vs 96.8.
- Where does Virginia Beach, VA beat Charleston, SC most clearly?
- Virginia Beach, VA ranks far ahead on Violent Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 96.7 vs 279.9; Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 3.3 vs 6.3; Price Level (Housing Rents) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 99.8 vs 119.8.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Charleston, SC or Virginia Beach, VA.