RANK #189 / 1001 NAT · #6 / 37 VA · POP 456,349
1YR FORECAST: +1.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +34%
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.
Virginia Beach city is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +3.1% runs above the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 16.1x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| 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 1001 counties.
Virginia Beach city ranks #189 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 81/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +0.6% and a median household income of $92,968 point to a county with active economic momentum.
Virginia Beach city leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $382,500 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.24 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,714/month on average.
Population and employment in Virginia Beach city are both close to flat — population -0.2% YoY and jobs +0.6%. Home values shifted +3.1% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.54% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Virginia Beach city has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.