Fort Lauderdale FL vs Virginia Beach VA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Florida · Population: 183,032

  • Median HH Income$79,935
  • Median Home Price$510,297
  • Unemployment5.3%
  • Bachelor's+39.8%

Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia · Population: 457,066

  • Median HH Income$90,685
  • Median Home Price$427,121
  • Unemployment4.3%
  • Bachelor's+40.4%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Fort Lauderdale
183,032
Virginia Beach
457,066
Virginia Beach +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Fort Lauderdale
N/A
Virginia Beach
N/A
Median Age
Fort Lauderdale
42.9
Virginia Beach
37.4
Virginia Beach +
Foreign Born
Fort Lauderdale
26.7%
Fort Lauderdale +
Virginia Beach
9.1%
White
Fort Lauderdale
51.3%
Virginia Beach
61.6%
Virginia Beach +
Black
Fort Lauderdale
28.8%
Fort Lauderdale +
Virginia Beach
18.9%
Asian
Fort Lauderdale
1.6%
Virginia Beach
7.2%
Virginia Beach +
Hispanic
Fort Lauderdale
20.1%
Fort Lauderdale +
Virginia Beach
8.9%
Spanish at Home
Fort Lauderdale
N/A
Virginia Beach
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Fort Lauderdale
$79,935
Virginia Beach
$90,685
Virginia Beach +
Per Capita Income
Fort Lauderdale
$57,845
Fort Lauderdale +
Virginia Beach
$47,372
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Fort Lauderdale
$65,328
Virginia Beach
$69,581
Virginia Beach +
Unemployment Rate
Fort Lauderdale
5.3%
Virginia Beach
4.3%
Virginia Beach +
Poverty Rate
Fort Lauderdale
15.2%
Virginia Beach
8.4%
Virginia Beach +
Bachelor's Degree+
Fort Lauderdale
39.8%
Virginia Beach
40.4%
Virginia Beach +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Fort Lauderdale
$510,297
Virginia Beach
$427,121
Virginia Beach +
Homeownership Rate
Fort Lauderdale
53.8%
Virginia Beach
64.9%
Virginia Beach +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fort Lauderdale
324
Virginia Beach
240
Virginia Beach +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fort Lauderdale
1453
Fort Lauderdale +
Virginia Beach
1726

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
30.3%
Fort Lauderdale +
Virginia Beach
36.5%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
12.8%
Virginia Beach
11.8%
Virginia Beach +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Fort Lauderdale
16.2%
Fort Lauderdale +
Virginia Beach
16.7%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
14.7%
Virginia Beach
8.3%
Virginia Beach +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
14.9%
Fort Lauderdale +
Virginia Beach
15.6%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
13.0%
Virginia Beach
12.1%
Virginia Beach +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fort Lauderdale
75.5°F
Virginia Beach
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fort Lauderdale
66.5 in
Virginia Beach
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Fort Lauderdale
7.2 µg/m³
Fort Lauderdale +
Virginia Beach
8.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Fort Lauderdale
75.0%
Virginia Beach
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Fort Lauderdale
28.5 min
Virginia Beach
25.0 min
Virginia Beach +

Which City is Right for You?

Virginia Beach leads in median household income at $90,685, while virginia Beach offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $427,121. On public safety, Virginia Beach is safer with a violent crime rate of 240 per 100,000 residents, compared to 324 in Fort Lauderdale. Virginia Beach has a lower unemployment rate at 4.3%, and Fort Lauderdale has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Fort Lauderdale scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.3%.

Compare More Cities

About Fort Lauderdale & Virginia Beach