Virginia Beach is better than Anaheim, with a stable job market and the right balance between a small town and a city. Anaheim has good schools and great weather. But the city is expensive. And when you get to move in with your kids, you also have many educational institutions to choose from.
In Virginia Beach, you have a solid job market and a friendly vibe, but many things are to do here.
Sure, the jet noise may bother you. But if you choose your neighborhood well, you could eliminate this problem.
Anaheim, on the other hand, is a significant enough city. But with the rising housing costs, you can never move there unless your job pays you well.
Virginia Beach is also expensive. But it is not as expensive as Anaheim is.
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What are the pros and cons of Anaheim vs. Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach has excellent schools, activities to do, and a solid job market. Anaheim has national parks nearby, the beach, and excellent schools. But with the rising costs in Anaheim, you should be better off in Virginia Beach.
I am not saying that moving to Anaheim is the worst decision. My point is that moving here would be impractical.
The overall cost of living in Virginia Beach is more expensive than the national average. But compared to Anaheim, Virginia Beach is more affordable. And that breaks the deal for me.
Anaheim Living
If you love the beach and find it cool to live near national parks, Anaheim is the place to be. Here are a few more things about this beautiful city that you should know.
Pros
Here are a few more things you will adore in Anaheim.
- Anaheim and National Parks
- Anaheim and the Beaches
- Anaheim and the Good Schools
One of the upsides to living in Anaheim is its proximity to several national parks. A leisurely and relaxing day from the stressful city life is not so far from home.
Canyon Carbon Regional Park is all about redwood and is about 11 miles away from Anaheim. Joshua Tree National Park is a few minutes drives away from the city. And finally, Chino Hills State Park is 30 minutes away.
Let me clarify this.
Anaheim does not have its beach. But if there is one thing about the city, it is about half an hour away from famous beaches.
When you move to Anaheim, it is easier to spend your weekends swimming or surfing on any of these beaches.
Long Beach, Newport Beach, and Huntington Beach are near.
Another advantage of living in Anaheim is its availability of quality education. There are many excellent options for schools and colleges in the area.
Most of these schools perform well and rank high based on various measures. These include academic performance and equity.
Anaheim High School, Loara, and El Rancho Charter School are just some of the best.
In Anaheim, you can ensure that your children get the high quality of education they deserve.
Cons
How about the things that should concern you?
Here are a few of them.
- Anaheim and its Nightlife
- Anaheim and Earthquakes
I am not supposed to be a party pooper, but if there is one thing about Anaheim, it is its nightlife.
There are not many clubs and bars to choose from, and the nightlife in the city is rather dull.
Geographically, Anaheim is in between two major fault zones.
One of these faults is the Newport-Inglewood Fault Zone in the southwestern part of the city. The Whittier-Elsinore Fault Zone is to the northeast of the town.
Sooner or later, Anaheim can experience big earthquakes that could potentially harm you and your family.
Virginia Beach Living
Virginia Beach brings dreams of living in a small-town vibe with city amenities. Plus, it has excellent jobs for you, too!
Pros
Living in Virginia Beach is a blast. Read on to find out more.
- The Job Market
- The Things that you Can Do
- The Right Mix of Small Town and Big City
Virginia Beach has a strong job market. And yes, it is a reflection of the city’s strong economy.
Compared to the national average, the unemployment rate here is lower. It has been lower for many years now. Even the city’s income per capita is higher than the country’s national average.
Yes, the cost of living here may be a bit higher than in other cities. But the jobs here pay well, too.
And speaking of jobs, those that have something to do with farming, private industry jobs, and the military fare well in the city.
One of the biggest companies that provide jobs in the city is the naval jet airbase NAS Oceana. Also, Norfolk is just near. Some residents can also work in the naval shipyard there.
Giants that provide jobs to residents outside the military are Stihl, Amerigroup, and Geico.
Residents of Virginia Beach discover that the city has a lot of things to offer.
Those with active lifestyles will never find disappointment in the city. Virginia Beach has natural parks, waterways, and miles and miles of sand.
One of the most notable in the area is the First Landing State Park. It goes through a forest, ponds, and some beach dunes.
Another is the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, an important area for wildlife.
One of the advantages of living in Virginia Beach is its vibe.
It provides its residents with a balance between a small town and a big city.
You get all the amenities of a big city without all that crowd.
The city is not as populated as bigger metros. Congestion is unknown here.
Cons
Now, let us talk a bit about a few concerns.
Should you worry about these things in Virginia Beach?
Read on.
- The Jets
- Tropical Storms
You have to put to mind that Virginia Beach is a military town.
As such, you will be hearing a lot of jet noises throughout the day. But not all parts of the town experience this.
If you plan to get a home in Virginia Beach, ask the seller if the property is in that area that gets regular jet noises.
Did you know that Virginia Beach gets its share of hurricanes yearly?
Virginia Beach residents always get hurricane warnings. But these storms always appear much weaker than the predictions.
Despite this, there will always be possibilities of the city getting big hurricanes at any point in the future.
Virginia Beach or Anaheim – Which is cheaper?
Anaheim is one expensive city. It pales compared to Virginia Beach in terms of affordability. What makes Anaheim super expensive is its housing cost. It is one of the most expensive in the country.
| Living Expenses | Anaheim | Virginia Beach |
| Housing | 257.1 | 116 |
| Food & Groceries | 102.5 | 100.3 |
| Health | 95.9 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97.4 | 97.1 |
| Transportation | 118 | 98 |
Data is based on 100 = US National Average
>100 means more than the national average
<100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing/Rent
As mentioned earlier, Anaheim is one of the most expensive when it comes to housing costs.
Compared to the national average, it is 157.1% more expensive. This cost should take up most of your budget if you decide to move to Anaheim.
On the other hand, Virginia Beach is cheaper.
The cost of housing in Virginia Beach may also be higher than the national average. But it is only 16% more expensive, which puts those moving here at an advantage.
The only reminder when choosing houses in Virginia Beach is the location.
Remember the jets I talked about earlier?
Make sure to ask the real estate agent.
Utility Costs
Virginia Beach and Anaheim would have a close fight regarding utility costs.
Anaheim is more expensive than Virginia Beach, but the difference is insignificant. Virginia Beach is at 97.1%, just 2.9% cheaper than the national average.
On the other hand, Anaheim is at 97.4%, which is 2.6% cheaper than the national average.
As you already know, utility costs include electricity, heating system, garbage disposal, internet subscriptions, etc.
A difference of about 0.3% in costs should not be your basis for choosing these cities.
Because at the end of the day, it all depends on your consumption.
Food and Groceries
When it comes to food and groceries, Virginia Beach is cheaper than Anaheim.
Virginia Beach is 0.3% more expensive than the national average. On the other hand, Anaheim is 2.5% more expensive than the national average in terms of food and groceries.
The differences may not be much, but consider bringing your family with you.
If food and groceries take up a massive chunk of your budget, consider this an essential factor before moving.
Transportation Costs
Transportation is more expensive in Anaheim.
It is, in fact, more expensive by 18% than the national average.
Now, let us compare the numbers with that of Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach is more affordable than the national average by 2%.
The variance of about 20% makes all the difference in your decision-making. In Virginia Beach, you will save more on transportation costs.
Also, while discussing transportation costs, remember that commuting time in Anaheim is also longer than the national average.
As such, expect to spend long hours on the road. Expect to consume more gas than usual.
Healthcare
It is interesting to note that healthcare costs are more expensive in Virginia Beach than in Anaheim.
Anaheim is cheaper than the national average by 4.1%. On the other hand, healthcare in Virginia Beach is not expensive.
It is, in fact, the same as the national average. You will not be spending much here when it comes to healthcare.
But between the two cities, Anaheim is cheaper.
Is Virginia Beach bigger than Anaheim?
Virginia Beach is larger in land area than Anaheim. Speaking of land area, Anaheim is at 50.3 square miles. On the other hand, Virginia Beach has a land area of 497.50 square miles.
Even in population size, Virginia Beach has more residents than Anaheim.
As of 2021, Virginia Beach’s population was at 460,000. Anaheim, on the other hand, had 349,000.
However, because of the land area of Virginia Beach, its population is more spread out compared to that of Anaheim.
It is thus safe to say that Anaheim is denser in population, with a population density of 3,832 people per square mile.
On the other hand, Virginia Beach has a population density of 1,840 people per square mile.
Is Virginia Beach safer than Anaheim?
Virginia Beach has fewer crimes than Anaheim. The numbers, specifically each city’s crime index, indicate that Anaheim has more crimes. Its crime index is at 53.24%. The crime index of Virginia Beach is lower at 41.75%.
By looking at the crime index alone, you can surmise that Virginia Beach is safer than Anaheim.
There are fewer crimes here.
Most of the crime incidents are higher in Anaheim.
For example, worries of physical attacks are lower in Virginia Beach at 37.96% compared to Anaheim’s 43.42%.
The same is true with worries of receiving verbal insults, at 32% in Virginia Beach. The same type of concern is at 41.18% in Anaheim.
Finally, you never have to worry about somebody breaking into your homes in Virginia Beach. Such is only at 37.04%, lower than 53.95% in Anaheim.
Overall, Virginia Beach has fewer crimes.
Is Anaheim better than Virginia Beach?
If you compare the two cities, it is evident that Virginia Beach is better. Plus, the city is more affordable, has excellent schools, and has fewer crimes than Anaheim. The job market in Virginia Beach alone is enough reason for you to choose it.
Virginia Beach, as mentioned earlier, has a small-town vibe but is complete with city amenities.
This reason alone can easily convince anyone to move there.
Anaheim is denser in population compared to Virginia Beach. And so, if you do not like the crowds, you would not like it in Anaheim.
Housing costs are also more expensive in Anaheim. And this cost alone could put a dent in your wallet.
In Virginia Beach, the cost of living is more affordable; the job market is healthier.
What more could you ask?
If I were to choose between the two, it would be Virginia Beach.
How about you?
