CityCompare

Salt Lake City UT 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)

Salt Lake City, UT

Utah · Population: 203,888

  • Median HH Income$74,925
  • Median Home Price$580,126
  • Unemployment3.8%
  • Bachelor's+50.9%

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
Salt Lake City
203,888
Virginia Beach
457,066
Virginia Beach +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Salt Lake City
N/A
Virginia Beach
N/A
Median Age
Salt Lake City
33.0
Salt Lake City +
Virginia Beach
37.4
Foreign Born
Salt Lake City
15.4%
Salt Lake City +
Virginia Beach
9.1%
White
Salt Lake City
70.5%
Salt Lake City +
Virginia Beach
61.6%
Black
Salt Lake City
2.7%
Virginia Beach
18.9%
Virginia Beach +
Asian
Salt Lake City
5.3%
Virginia Beach
7.2%
Virginia Beach +
Hispanic
Salt Lake City
20.8%
Salt Lake City +
Virginia Beach
8.9%
Spanish at Home
Salt Lake City
N/A
Virginia Beach
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Salt Lake City
$74,925
Virginia Beach
$90,685
Virginia Beach +
Per Capita Income
Salt Lake City
$49,642
Salt Lake City +
Virginia Beach
$47,372
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Salt Lake City
$60,713
Virginia Beach
$69,581
Virginia Beach +
Unemployment Rate
Salt Lake City
3.8%
Salt Lake City +
Virginia Beach
4.3%
Poverty Rate
Salt Lake City
13.4%
Virginia Beach
8.4%
Virginia Beach +
Bachelor's Degree+
Salt Lake City
50.9%
Salt Lake City +
Virginia Beach
40.4%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Salt Lake City
$580,126
Virginia Beach
$427,121
Virginia Beach +
Homeownership Rate
Salt Lake City
46.8%
Virginia Beach
64.9%
Virginia Beach +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Salt Lake City
245
Virginia Beach
240
Virginia Beach +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Salt Lake City
1931
Virginia Beach
1726
Virginia Beach +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Salt Lake City
29.5%
Salt Lake City +
Virginia Beach
36.5%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Salt Lake City
7.9%
Salt Lake City +
Virginia Beach
11.8%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Salt Lake City
18.2%
Virginia Beach
16.7%
Virginia Beach +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Salt Lake City
12.3%
Virginia Beach
8.3%
Virginia Beach +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Salt Lake City
16.0%
Virginia Beach
15.6%
Virginia Beach +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Salt Lake City
7.9%
Salt Lake City +
Virginia Beach
12.1%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Salt Lake City
52.8°F
Virginia Beach
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Salt Lake City
16.1 in
Virginia Beach
N/A

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Salt Lake City
21.3 min
Salt Lake City +
Virginia Beach
25.0 min

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 245 in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City has a lower unemployment rate at 3.8%, and Salt Lake City has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.0 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Salt Lake City scores better with a lower obesity rate of 29.5%.

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About Salt Lake City & Virginia Beach

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