01 · the cities
Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is a three-mile boardwalk, a giant Neptune statue keeping watch, and Atlantic surf that's warm in August and gentle in September. The military presence (Navy and Air Force) gives the city a structured, welcoming feel. False Cape and Back Bay nature areas are wild marshland just south of the high-rises. October on the boardwalk might be the prettiest month on the East Coast.
full dispatch→Jacksonville
Jacksonville is the largest city in the continental U.S. by land area, which means everything is 20 minutes from everything else and most of those 20 minutes involve a bridge. The St. Johns River cuts the city in half, the beaches are a quick drive east, and the food scene leans seafood and surprisingly excellent BBQ. It's a Florida city without the theme-park vibe.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,819/mo
$1,679/mo
$140/mo less than Virginia Beach (8%)
Median home price
Median home price
$375k
$358k
$17k less than Virginia Beach
State income tax
State income tax
5.8%
0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,035/mo
$6,654/mo
Jacksonville has $619/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
211 days
198 days
13 fewer than Virginia Beach
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
27 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
2 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
Jacksonville has 26 more days above 95°F each year than Virginia Beach.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
57 / 100
64 / 100
7.0 pts ahead of Virginia Beach
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
17 routes
26 routes
9 more direct routes than Virginia Beach
Metro size
Metro size
1.8M metro
1.7M metro
Virginia Beach has 1.7x fewer events per month than Jacksonville.
the verdict
2
Virginia Beach
categories won
6
Jacksonville
categories won
Jacksonville wins on money and lifestyle. Virginia Beach has the edge on weather.
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