Virginia Beach VA vs Winston-Salem NC — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia · Population: 457,066

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

Winston-Salem, NC

North Carolina · Population: 118,578

Median HH Income$63,900
Median Home Price$265,013
Unemployment4.6%
Bachelor's+45.8%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Virginia Beach

457,066

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

118,578

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Virginia Beach

N/A

Winston-Salem

N/A

Median Age

Virginia Beach

37.4

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

37.5

Foreign Born

Virginia Beach

9.1%

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

5.7%

White

Virginia Beach

61.6%

Winston-Salem

72.9%

Winston-Salem +

Black

Virginia Beach

18.9%

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

14.9%

Asian

Virginia Beach

7.2%

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

1.3%

Hispanic

Virginia Beach

8.9%

Winston-Salem

8.9%

Tie

Spanish at Home

Virginia Beach

N/A

Winston-Salem

N/A

Metric	Virginia Beach, VA	Winston-Salem, NC	Better
Population	457,066	118,578	Virginia Beach +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	37.4	37.5	Virginia Beach +
Foreign Born	9.1%	5.7%	Virginia Beach +
White	61.6%	72.9%	Winston-Salem +
Black	18.9%	14.9%	Virginia Beach +
Asian	7.2%	1.3%	Virginia Beach +
Hispanic	8.9%	8.9%	Tie
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Virginia Beach

$90,685

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

$63,900

Per Capita Income

Virginia Beach

$47,372

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

$46,062

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Virginia Beach

$69,581

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

$59,120

Unemployment Rate

Virginia Beach

4.3%

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

4.6%

Poverty Rate

Virginia Beach

8.4%

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

16.3%

Bachelor's Degree+

Virginia Beach

40.4%

Winston-Salem

45.8%

Winston-Salem +

Metric	Virginia Beach, VA	Winston-Salem, NC	Better
Median HH Income	$90,685	$63,900	Virginia Beach +
Per Capita Income	$47,372	$46,062	Virginia Beach +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$69,581	$59,120	Virginia Beach +
Unemployment Rate	4.3%	4.6%	Virginia Beach +
Poverty Rate	8.4%	16.3%	Virginia Beach +
Bachelor's Degree+	40.4%	45.8%	Winston-Salem +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Virginia Beach

$427,121

Winston-Salem

$265,013

Winston-Salem +

Homeownership Rate

Virginia Beach

64.9%

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

46.8%

Metric	Virginia Beach, VA	Winston-Salem, NC	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$427,121	$265,013	Winston-Salem +
Homeownership Rate	64.9%	46.8%	Virginia Beach +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Virginia Beach

240

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

398

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Virginia Beach

1726

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

1999

Metric	Virginia Beach, VA	Winston-Salem, NC	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	240	398	Virginia Beach +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1726	1999	Virginia Beach +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Virginia Beach

36.5%

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

42.7%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Virginia Beach

11.8%

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

13.1%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Virginia Beach

16.7%

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

17.4%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Virginia Beach

8.3%

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

12.8%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Virginia Beach

15.6%

Winston-Salem

14.4%

Winston-Salem +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Virginia Beach

12.1%

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

14.4%

Metric	Virginia Beach, VA	Winston-Salem, NC	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	36.5%	42.7%	Virginia Beach +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	11.8%	13.1%	Virginia Beach +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	16.7%	17.4%	Virginia Beach +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	8.3%	12.8%	Virginia Beach +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.6%	14.4%	Winston-Salem +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	12.1%	14.4%	Virginia Beach +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Virginia Beach

N/A

Winston-Salem

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Virginia Beach

N/A

Winston-Salem

N/A

Metric	Virginia Beach, VA	Winston-Salem, NC	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	N/A	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Virginia Beach

8.2 µg/m³

Virginia Beach +

Winston-Salem

8.7 µg/m³

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Virginia Beach

75.0%

Winston-Salem

75.0%

Tie

Metric	Virginia Beach, VA	Winston-Salem, NC	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	8.2 µg/m³	8.7 µg/m³	Virginia Beach +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	75.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Virginia Beach

25.0 min

Winston-Salem

20.0 min

Winston-Salem +

Metric	Virginia Beach, VA	Winston-Salem, NC	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	25.0 min	20.0 min	Winston-Salem +

Which City is Right for You?

Virginia Beach leads in median household income at $90,685, while winston-Salem offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $265,013. On public safety, Virginia Beach is safer with a violent crime rate of 240 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in Winston-Salem. Virginia Beach has a lower unemployment rate at 4.3%, and Virginia Beach has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Virginia Beach scores better with a lower obesity rate of 36.5%.

Compare More Cities

New York, NY vs Virginia Beach, VA Los Angeles, CA vs Virginia Beach, VA Chicago, IL vs Virginia Beach, VA Houston, TX vs Virginia Beach, VA Phoenix, AZ vs Virginia Beach, VA Philadelphia, PA vs Virginia Beach, VA

About Virginia Beach & Winston-Salem

View Virginia Beach VA Profile →View Winston-Salem NC Profile →