| Measure | RaleighNorth Carolina, United States Remove Raleigh | Virginia BeachVirginia, United States Remove Virginia Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Scores (out of 10) | ||
| Overall score | 7.3 | 7.1 |
| Connector Score | 8.4 | 6.4 |
| Safety | 6.3 | 9.5 |
| Affordability | 6.2 | 6.0 |
| Transportation | 10.0 | 8.0 |
| Car-free friendliness | 8.5 | 5.0 |
| Walkability | 8.3 | 5.3 |
| Things to do | 7.0 | 7.1 |
| Food & dining | 6.9 | 6.4 |
| Places to stay | 6.7 | 6.6 |
| Nature & outdoors | 5.5 | 9.0 |
| Scenic value | 5.5 | 8.8 |
| Family friendliness | 5.3 | 7.9 |
| Solo-traveler friendliness | 6.8 | 6.3 |
| Nightlife | 8.3 | 5.3 |
| Remote-work friendliness | 6.2 | 6.1 |
| Road-trip convenience | 6.5 | 6.4 |
| Train-trip convenience | 8.8 | 1.0 |
| Bus-trip convenience | 8.0 | 6.5 |
| Cost (per person per day, USD) | ||
| Budget | $174 | $140 |
| Mid-range | $278 | $238 |
| Luxury | $533 | $433 |
| Living there | ||
| Cost of living index (national = 100) | 103 | 105 |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent | $1,209 | $1,700 |
| Median home price | $485,000 | $382,500 |
| Population | 503K | 454K |
| Getting there | ||
| Accessible by | Drive Train Bus Airport | Drive Bus Airport |
| Car recommended | — | — |
| Travel time from Raleigh | — | 3 h 55 min details |
| Character | ||
| Best for | Car-free travel, Nightlife, History | Outdoors, Families, Beaches |
| Known for | National & state parks, Lakes & rivers, Museums & galleries, Historic sites, Food scene, Nightlife, Live music | Beaches, Mountains & hiking, National & state parks, Lakes & rivers, Historic sites, Food scene, Live music, Family & kids |
| When to go | — | Peak: Memorial Day to Labor Day and weekends… |
Scores and costs are estimates from public data and our own research; check the city pages for sources and dates.