If you’re thinking about moving to Virginia Beach be prepared for annual hurricane warnings, rush hour traffic, and fighter jet noises but it may be the perfect place to live for young families, pet owners, and outdoor enthusiasts.

From the low cost of living, great weather, top-rated public school system, strong job market, and stunning beaches, it’s no wonder Virginia Beach is considered one of the best places to live in America. But before you pack up and move, you’ll still need to weigh the pros and cons to make sure Virginia Beach is the best place to live for you.

Luckily,

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What you need to know about Virginia Beach before you move

Nearly 500 square miles in size, there’s no shortage of space for newcomers moving to Virginia Beach for its comfortable climate, top not education system, low crime rates, affordable housing market, and longest stretch of pleasure beach in the world. But before you make the move to Virginia beach, here’s what you should know:

1. It’s a military town

Virginia beach is home to nine military installations that represent all branches of the United States Armed Forces including JEB Little Creek-Fort Story, one of the largest military bases on the East Coast, and Naval Air Station Oceana the world’s largest naval base.

With 89,604 active duty military personnel, 52,240 civilian employees, and around 279,000 people connected to the military, Virginia Beach's population is 93% militarily connected.

Virginia Beach is rich with military history—from the life-size monument of the Navy SEAL demolition swimmer on the boardwalk to one of the largest private collections of World War I and II-era aircraft at the Military Aviation Museum.

MORE:

The best car insurance for military families and veterans

3. You’ll need noise-canceling headphones

As you now know, Virginia Beach is a military town home to the world’s largest naval base. But depending on where you live, you’ll hear loud jet noises overhead several times per day and may benefit from getting a set of noise-canceling headphones.

If you’re planning on purchasing a home in Virginia Beach, the seller is required to enclose that the propertyis exposed to frequent jet noise so you know what you’re getting into.

4. There are lots of jobs (and not everyone works in the military)

While the Naval Air Station Oceana-DAM Neck and JEB Little Creek-Fort Story may be the largest employers in Virginia Beach, the military sector isn’t the only industry hiring.

From higher education institutions like Virginia Wesleyan and Regent University to Amerigroup and Geico or Sentara Healthcare, Virginia Beach has a diversified job market. Healthcare, education, information technology, insurance, and hospitality, are just a few of the burgeoning sectors in Virginia Beach.

With plenty of jobs to go around across several industries, it’s no surprise Virginia Beach has an unemployment rate of 3.6% which is lower than the national average.

5. It’s the #1 safest large city in America

According to a

recent study

of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Uniform Crime Reporting Data Set, Virginia Beach is ranked the #1 safest large city in the United States. With just 10.2 violent crimes and 15.1 per one thousand people annually, Virginia Beach has the lowest crime rates of cities with 300,000 or more residents.

These low crime rates could be due to the low unemployment rate, excellent public school system, large military presence, or strong economy. Whatever the reason, you and your family will be safe if you move to Virginia Beach.

6. Low cost of living (for the East Coast)!

Compared to the rest of the East Coast, Virginia Beach is a relatively affordable place to live with a cost of living index of 103.3 but what does that actually mean? Let’s put it into terms of regular expenses.

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $979 per month in Virginia Beach which is less than the state and national average. For those of you looking to purchase a home, you may want to move sooner rather than later—the median listing price is $350,000 and on the rise.

Dining out is always more expensive than eating in, especially in a city and Virginia Beach is no exception to that rule. If you want to move to Virginia Beach, you can’t have a problem with paying $5.30 for a cup of coffee or $6.54 for a beer at the local pub, and a date night dinner with your partner will cost you $80.50 or more!

With individuals earning an average annual salary of $39,356 and a median household income of $78,136, the cost of living in Virginia Beach should be manageable.

7. Hurricane warnings will become no big deal

If you move to Virginia Beach you can expect to receive several hurricane warnings throughout the year–but don’t worry. Most storms wind up being weaker than anticipated or lose strength before they reach the area.

In fact, because of its geography, a hurricane has never actually struck Virginia Beach. But that doesn’t mean you won’t experience the heavy rainfalls and high winds that come with hurricane season on the East Coast.

8. You can always enjoy the outdoors

From the freshwater ponds, forests, and sand dunes in

First Landing State Park

to the

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

or the 28 miles of public beaches, Virginia Beach is the perfect place for those who enjoy an active lifestyle.

9. There’s no shortage of great public schools

If you have a family or planning to start one, this one’s for you! Virginia Beach has the best school public school system in the state and with over 50 elementary schools, 14 middle schools, and 12 high schools, there’s no shortage of neighborhoods with an excellent education.

Among the top contenders? Ocean Lakes, First Colonial High School,and Salem High School–each specializing in their own subject. If you’ve got a math and science whiz on your hands,

Ocean Lakes

is your pick but

First Colonial High School

is great for those interested in legal studies. Is your child interested in the visual and performing arts? Head to

Salem High School

10. Rush hour will be your enemy

Alright, so Virginia Beach doesn’t have rush hour traffic like

Los Angeles

, but the rush hour is surprisingly extreme and a top complaint (next to jet noises) among residents.

You can expect stop-and-go rush hour traffic from 6 am to 9 am and 3 pm to 6 pm in Virginia Beach. You'll want one if you don’t have a hybrid or electric vehicle already.

Unfortunately, the public transit system won’t offer any relief either. Local buses run late and won’t reach some regions of the city.

MORE:

How bad is Virginia Beach traffic?

Is Virginia Beach a good place to live?

Virginia Beach is a good place to live–for some but not all. If you weren’t thrilled after reading the above list, Virginia Beach might not be the right city for you.

However, if you’re a military contractor, outdoor enthusiast, or looking to settle down and start a family and don’t mind high winds, loud jet noises, or rush hour traffic then Virginia Beach could be your next home!

Key Takeaway Great public schools, endless outdoor activities, a solid local economy, and job market balance out intense rush hour traffic and loud jet noises.

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Finding a place to live in Virginia Beach

Before you move to Virginia Beach, the first thing you’ll need to do–after getting noise-canceling headphones and swapping your car out for a hybrid one–is find a place to live.

Virginia Beach’s housing market is competitive. Homes in Virginia Beach sell in just 19 days and receive 3 offers on average. With a median sale price of $330,000 the houses in Virginia Beach sell under the listing price but home values are trending upwards.

If you’re renting, you’re looking at spending an average monthly rent ranging between $958 for a studio to $1,969 for a four-bedroom. There are more affordable neighborhoods like Dam Neck where the average rent is $882 due to its proximity to the Naval Air Station Oceana i.e. loud jet noises.

When deciding on a neighborhood to live in, begin bymaking a budget so you know how much rent you can actually afford. Next, you can consider other factors like household layout, walkability, and nightlife scene, to find the perfect neighborhood for you.

With 111 neighborhoods, there are plenty of places you could live in Virginia Beach. If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve got some insights here:

Best neighborhoods for singles and young professionals: Seatack, Kings Grant, Acredale, Lagomar

Best neighborhoods if you’ve got kids: Atlanton/Baycliff, Kings Grant, Bay Colony, Laurel Cove, Cape Story by the Sea

Best neighborhoods for nightlife: Chesapeake Bay, Oceanfront, Sandbridge, Pungo, Rudee Inlet

Most affordable neighborhoods: Thoroughgood, Dam Neck, Chic’s Beach, Buckroe Beach

Make sure you spend a few nights in the neighborhood before you make the move. Stay with a friend, hotel, or short-term rental to get a sense of everyday life and find out if it’s the right place for you.

MORE:

Cheap car insurance if you rent an apartment

Moving to Virginia Beach checklist

You place that fits your budget in your ideal Virginia Beach neighborhood and it’s finally time to move! Luckily, we’re here to help make your move seamless with these checklists.

Before you go

Here’s what you’ll need to do before you move:

Book a U-Haul

or hire a

reputable moving company

if you’re looking for a hands-off moving experience

Pack

everything you own into boxes and don’t be afraid to

ask your friends

for help (provide snacks and drinks, of course)

Let your landlord, employer, utility company, and

insurance provider

that you’re moving

Consider

shipping your car

to Virginia Beach if you’re moving cross country so you don’t incur mileage

Book your plane tickets or plan the

best road trip ever

After you get there

You’ve finally made it to your home, but there’s still so much more for you to do! You’ll need these essential steps to settle into your new Virginia Beach life:

in Virginia and

update your insurance

if you moved with a car from another state

Even though it’s not required, you should get

renters insurance

to protect you and your belongings!

Don’t forget to update your mailing address, voter registration, and healthcare information

Find out what your new neighborhood has to offer! Check out the local coffee shops, parks, watering holes, and restaurants to discover your new favorite spots.

MORE:

Complete checklist for moving out of state

How to save on car, renters, and home insurance in Virginia Beach

Whether you’ve traded in for a hybrid, bought a house in Kings Grant, or rented a one bedroom in Chesapeake Bay, you’ll need insurance when you move to Virginia Beach. Luckily, the price comparison app

Jerry

is here to help you find next-level savings on any and every insurance—even your

Virginia Beach car insurance

Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new home, renters, or car insurance. Jerry will even help you

bundle

for serious savings.

And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price!

The best news? The Jerry users save an average of $887 a year on car insurance. That’s almost a month of rent in Virginia Beach!

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FAQs

Is it worth moving to Virginia?

The answer to that question is that it depends on who you are! If you’re looking for a place to enjoy an active lifestyle, love the beach and don’t mind high winds, rush hour traffic or fight jet noises, it’s totally worth moving to Virginia Beach.

How much money do I need to move to Virginia Beach?

How much money you’ll need to move to Virginia Beach could be anywhere from $100 to a few thousand depending on where you’re moving from, whether you hire a professional moving company, and the combined cost of your security deposit, first and last months rent.

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