HEAD TO HEAD
Richmond vs Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach leads Richmond on 4 of 5 factors — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
Richmond, VA
wins 1 of 5 factors
Virginia Beach, VA
wins 4 of 5 factors
Match scores, side by side
| Factor | Richmond | Virginia Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable to buy | 81 | 82 ◆ |
| Affordable to rent | 67 ◆ | 63 |
| Climate comfort | 74 | 78 ◆ |
| Plenty of sunshine | 50 | 51 ◆ |
| Big-city amenities | 89 | 91 ◆ |
By the numbers
| Figure | Richmond | Virginia Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $398K | $374K |
| Typical rent | $1,763/mo | $1,862/mo |
| Average temperature | 14.5°C | 15.6°C |
| Sunshine (solar energy) | 4.27 kWh/m²/day | 4.29 kWh/m²/day |
| Metro size rank (US) | #45 | #38 |
Home & rent Zillow, May 2026 · climate & sunshine NASA POWER climatology. Scores are normalised 0–100 across all metros; higher is better. A research aid, not advice.