RANK #324 / 996 · POP 457,900 · VA
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.4%
Virginia Beach, Virginia, is distinguished by its extensive coastline, including the Guinness World Record-holding "largest pleasure beach on Earth". Located in the southeastern corner of Virginia where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, it is about 18 miles from Norfolk. The city offers a blend of urban amenities and natural landscapes, with over 7,000 acres of parks and natural areas, including First Landing State Park, which offers miles of hiking and biking trails. Locals often frequent Chic's Beach for its calm waters, ideal for paddling and families. Commuting within the city is possible via the Hampton Roads Transit bus system and seasonal trolleys, though transit infrastructure is largely geared towards tourists.
Life in Virginia Beach offers a coastal lifestyle with a focus on outdoor activities and a family-friendly atmosphere. The Virginia Beach City Public Schools system is among the top-performing in the nation, with 86 accredited schools. The economy, historically reliant on defense and tourism, is undergoing diversification. While tourism remains a significant contributor, generating billions annually, there is a push to expand beyond these traditional sectors. The city is seeing investment in infrastructure and efforts to support local business growth and entrepreneurship.
Above national median (4.7x)
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.1x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Amazon Robotics Fulfillment Center and Delivery Station
Amazon
|
$109,000M | Under Construction |
|
Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW)
Dominion Energy
|
$11,000M | Under Construction |
|
Oceana 230kV Battery Project
Undisclosed (PJM interconnection queue)
|
$150M | Planned |
|
PointOne NAP of Virginia Beach Data Center Campus
PointOne Development Corp.
|
$50M | Operating |
|
Globalinx Subsea Cable Landing Station Expansion
Globalinx
|
$39M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Virginia Beach city has a Boom Town Index score of 68/100, ranking #324 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.5% and a median household income of $87,544, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Virginia Beach city is $343,700 with median rent at $1,568/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2547, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.1% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.5%. Home values changed +2.5% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 3.75% of Virginia Beach city's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.