Hampton VA vs Sunnyvale CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

Hampton, VA

Virginia · Population: 137,334

  • Median HH Income$67,758
  • Median Home Price$278,048
  • Unemployment6.3%
  • Bachelor's+27.5%

Sunnyvale, CA

California · Population: 153,455

  • Median HH Income$181,862
  • Median Home Price$2,144,024
  • Unemployment4.1%
  • Bachelor's+69.2%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Hampton
137,334
Sunnyvale
153,455
Sunnyvale +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Hampton
N/A
Sunnyvale
N/A
Median Age
Hampton
36.5
Sunnyvale
35.1
Sunnyvale +
Foreign Born
Hampton
5.2%
Sunnyvale
49.4%
Sunnyvale +
White
Hampton
37.5%
Hampton +
Sunnyvale
30.4%
Black
Hampton
49.0%
Hampton +
Sunnyvale
1.5%
Asian
Hampton
2.2%
Sunnyvale
49.4%
Sunnyvale +
Hispanic
Hampton
6.6%
Sunnyvale
16.7%
Sunnyvale +
Spanish at Home
Hampton
N/A
Sunnyvale
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Hampton
$67,758
Sunnyvale
$181,862
Sunnyvale +
Per Capita Income
Hampton
$36,787
Sunnyvale
$95,752
Sunnyvale +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Hampton
$69,581
Sunnyvale
$77,230
Sunnyvale +
Unemployment Rate
Hampton
6.3%
Sunnyvale
4.1%
Sunnyvale +
Poverty Rate
Hampton
13.0%
Sunnyvale
5.6%
Sunnyvale +
Bachelor's Degree+
Hampton
27.5%
Sunnyvale
69.2%
Sunnyvale +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Hampton
$278,048
Hampton +
Sunnyvale
$2,144,024
Homeownership Rate
Hampton
55.6%
Hampton +
Sunnyvale
43.8%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Hampton
240
Hampton +
Sunnyvale
503
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Hampton
1726
Hampton +
Sunnyvale
2388

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Hampton
40.1%
Sunnyvale
19.7%
Sunnyvale +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Hampton
15.0%
Sunnyvale
8.3%
Sunnyvale +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Hampton
18.4%
Sunnyvale
12.9%
Sunnyvale +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Hampton
9.5%
Sunnyvale
5.2%
Sunnyvale +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Hampton
13.1%
Hampton +
Sunnyvale
13.5%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Hampton
14.3%
Sunnyvale
6.7%
Sunnyvale +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Hampton
61.9°F
Sunnyvale
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Hampton
N/A
Sunnyvale
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Hampton
8.2 µg/m³
Sunnyvale
7.9 µg/m³
Sunnyvale +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Hampton
75.0%
Sunnyvale
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Hampton
24.0 min
Hampton +
Sunnyvale
25.3 min

Which City is Right for You?

Sunnyvale leads in median household income at $181,862, while hampton offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $278,048. On public safety, Hampton is safer with a violent crime rate of 240 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Sunnyvale. Sunnyvale has a lower unemployment rate at 4.1%, and Sunnyvale has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Sunnyvale scores better with a lower obesity rate of 19.7%.

Compare More Cities

About Hampton & Sunnyvale