Retiring in Virginia Beach, VA

Retirement city profile: climate, cost of living, healthcare, safety and more

85°/33°

Climate (Summer/Winter)

$429,777

Housing (Typical Value)

96.9

Safety (Violent Crime/100,000)

5 of 5

Healthcare (Hospital Rating)

Is Virginia Beach Right for Your Retirement?

With a reported population of 457,066, Virginia Beach offers a mid-size city setting for retirement planning. This profile brings its climate, housing, reported crime, healthcare access, walkability and natural hazard exposure into one view so you can evaluate the tradeoffs.

Potential Strengths

Lower violent crime
Strong hospital access
Low riverine flooding risk
Low wildfire risk
Low earthquake risk
Low ice storms risk

Potential Tradeoffs

Hot summers
Wet climate
Higher housing costs

Potential advantages. The reported violent crime rate is 96.9 per 100,000, 73% below the 359.1 per 100,000 US median. The nearest hospital is Sentara Princess Anne Hospital, 2.8 miles away. Its CMS quality rating is 5 of 5. FEMA and NOAA assign lower risk designations to riverine flooding, wildfire, earthquake and ice storms.

Potential tradeoffs. The average June through August high is 85°F. Annual precipitation is 46.6 inches. The typical home value is $429,777, 16% above the $371,774 US median. Median gross rent is $1,649 per month, 18% above the $1,400 per month US median.

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Climate

Summer high (Jun-Aug avg)85°F

Winter low (Dec-Feb avg)33°F

Annual snowfall3.4"

Annual precipitation46.6"

Housing & Cost of Living

Typical home value (ZHVI)$429,77716% above the $371,774 US median

Median gross rent$1,649/mo18% above the $1,400/mo US median

Safety (Reported Crime)

Violent crime rate96.9 /100,00073% below the 359.1 /100,000 US median

Property crime rate1664.9 /100,000near the US median of 1760.1 /100,000

Motor vehicle theft rate110.1 /100,000

Healthcare Access

Nearest hospitalSentara Princess Anne Hospital (2.8 mi)

Hospital quality★★★★★ (5 of 5)

Primary care accessStrong (1,404 residents/physician)

Walkability

EPA Walkability Index10.7/20 (Above Average)

Population & City Size

Population457,066Classified as a mid-size city

Elevation16 ft

Natural Disaster Risk

Riverine floodingVery Low

Coastal floodingRelatively Moderate

TornadoRelatively Moderate

HurricaneRelatively Moderate

WildfireVery Low

EarthquakeRelatively Low

Ice stormsRelatively Low

TsunamiN/A

Sources & Freshness

Crime: FBI UCR/NIBRS · Climate: NOAA Climate Normals · Natural disaster risk: FEMA National Risk Index & NOAA · Hospital location & distance: HIFLD · Hospital quality rating: CMS Hospital Compare · Primary care access: HRSA county-level provider data · Home value: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) · Rent: Census ACS place-level data · Population & elevation: US Census Bureau · Walkability: EPA National Walkability Index.
National median/average figures used for comparison (home value, rent, crime, precipitation) are recalculated annually from the same source datasets above.
Data last refreshed: August 2026.
Figures are comparative indicators and may not reflect neighborhood-level conditions. Confirm current housing, healthcare and hazard information with the cited sources before making a relocation decision.

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