Ann Arbor and Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Ann Arbor | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 369,822 | 1,787,235 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $89,180 | $82,330 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $52,714 | $44,050 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 524/sq mi | 558/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $374,100 | $340,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,463 | $1,478 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.6% | 63.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -7.1% | -2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.7% | 35.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 10.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,550 | 5,224 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.2 | 2.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 24.3% | 13.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 15°F | 34°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.8" | 45.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 25 mi | 21 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 26.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.0 | 37.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Ann Arbor
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, tornado.
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
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Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Ann Arbor, MI Metro Area · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology