Washington-Arlington-Alexandria vs Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk
Which is the better fit for you?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,318,377 | 1,787,235 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $126,684 | $82,330 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $63,554 | $44,050 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,047/sq mi | 558/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $579,900 | $340,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,027 | $1,478 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.7% | 63.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.7% | -2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.4% | 35.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.1% | 10.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 22,177 | 5,224 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.5 | 2.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 15.4% | 13.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 34°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.2" | 45.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 8 mi | 21 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 35.1 min | 26.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.0 | 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
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metro Area · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology