Before moving to Virginia Beach, plan for the city's real estate and vehicle taxes, Virginia income tax, hurricane season and flood zones, and how tunnels shape commutes. Then choose a neighborhood based on where you'll work, the school zone you want and how close you want to be to the water. Visit at rush hour before you buy.
Key facts
- Virginia Beach is home to about 453,737 people (Census Bureau, July 2025 estimate) and covers about 245 square miles of land.
- Real estate tax is $0.97 per $100 of assessed value. Vehicle personal property tax is $4.00 per $100, due June 5.
- Virginia income tax runs from 2% to 5.75%, with the top rate on taxable income over $17,000. Virginia doesn't tax Social Security benefits.
- The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. Virginia Beach uses the state's Know Your Zone evacuation zones, A through D.
- New residents must get a Virginia driver's license within 60 days and title and register vehicles within 30 days (Virginia DMV).
What is Virginia Beach like to live in?
Virginia Beach is Virginia's most populous city, but it doesn't feel like one big downtown. It's a collection of distinct areas: the Oceanfront resort area, quiet bayside neighborhoods along the Chesapeake Bay, established suburbs in the middle of the city, newer subdivisions to the south, and farms and open land below the Green Line in Pungo.
What Virginia Beach offers:
- Ocean and bay beaches, plus rivers and inlets for boating and paddling.
- State parks like First Landing and False Cape, and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
- A big military presence, with NAS Oceana, Dam Neck Annex and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in the city and Naval Station Norfolk nearby.
- A wide range of home types and prices.
What takes some adjusting:
- Summer crowds and traffic near the Oceanfront.
- Hurricane season and tidal flooding in low-lying areas.
- Water crossings that make some commutes longer than the miles suggest.
How much does it cost to live in Virginia Beach?
Housing is the biggest piece. Here are the official numbers to start with:
| Cost | What to know |
|---|---|
| Home value | Census median value of owner-occupied homes: $382,500 (2020-2024) |
| Rent | Census median gross rent: $1,714 (2020-2024) |
| Real estate tax | $0.97 per $100 of assessed value, billed in two installments due December 5 and June 5 |
| Vehicle tax | $4.00 per $100 of assessed value, due June 5 |
| State income tax | 2% to 5.75%; top rate applies over $17,000 of taxable income |
| Utilities | City Services bill for water, sewer, trash and stormwater; electric and gas from private utilities |
My guide to the cost of living in Virginia Beach in 2026 breaks this down further, and Virginia Beach property taxes explains how your tax bill is figured.
What should I know about hurricanes and flooding?
Coastal living comes with weather planning. Here's what I tell every relocating buyer:
- Know your evacuation zone. Look up any address in VDEM's Know Your Zone tool. Zone A has the highest risk from storm surge.
- Check the flood zone before you buy. Use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or the city's "My Flood Zone" tool. Virginia's disclosure law doesn't require sellers to tell you if a home is in a flood zone.
- Get insurance quotes early. Get homeowners and flood quotes during your due diligence period.
- Understand the city's investment. In 2021, Virginia Beach voters approved a $567.5 million flood protection bond referendum to fund drainage, pump stations, tide gates and other projects.
See do I need flood insurance in Virginia Beach for the details.
How do traffic, tunnels and tolls work here?
Hampton Roads is shaped by water, and the crossings shape commutes:
- Within Virginia Beach and to Norfolk: I-264 and I-64 connect most neighborhoods to Norfolk, including Naval Station Norfolk, without a tunnel.
- To the Peninsula (Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg): the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel on I-64 or the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel on I-664. VDOT's HRBT expansion is scheduled to finish in 2027.
- To Portsmouth: the Downtown and Midtown tunnels charge electronic tolls, with higher rates at weekday peak hours.
- To the Eastern Shore: the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, which charges a toll.
Before you choose a neighborhood, drive the commute at the time you'll actually make it.
How do I choose a neighborhood?
Start with three questions: Where will you work? Which schools matter? How close do you want to be to the water? Then compare areas:
| If you want... | Areas to explore |
|---|---|
| Walk to the ocean | Oceanfront, North End |
| Bay beaches and a beach-town feel | Chic's Beach, Bayside |
| Established, wooded streets and water access | Great Neck, Lynnhaven |
| A central location for commuting | Kempsville, Town Center & Pembroke |
| Newer subdivisions | Princess Anne, Landstown |
| Close to NAS Oceana and Dam Neck | Red Mill, Ocean Lakes, Hilltop |
| Land and a rural setting | Pungo |
You can browse every area from the neighborhoods page.
How do schools work when you move here?
Virginia Beach City Public Schools assigns students by attendance zone. Use the VBCPS School Locator to see the assigned schools for any address, and confirm at registration. VBCPS also runs citywide high school academies, such as the Mathematics and Science Academy at Ocean Lakes, which accept students by application. See the best school zones in Virginia Beach.
When is the best time to move to Virginia Beach?
There's no perfect season, but each has trade-offs. Summer is the busiest time for military moves and moves timed around the school year, so there's more competition for homes and movers. Fall and early winter can bring a little more negotiating room and milder weather, but hurricane season runs through November 30, which can affect insurance binding and closings when a storm is approaching. Spring usually brings more new listings. My post on the best time to buy a house in Virginia Beach goes deeper, and relocating to Virginia Beach has more tips for your move.
What should I do in my first 60 days?
- Get your Virginia driver's license within 60 days, and title and register your vehicles within 30 days, per Virginia DMV.
- Register your vehicle with the Commissioner of the Revenue for personal property tax.
- Set up utilities: the City Services bill for water, sewer, trash and stormwater, plus electric, gas and internet.
- Apply for tax relief if you qualify, such as the disabled veteran exemption or senior relief.
- Register to vote and update your address with the post office.
- Learn your evacuation zone and build a hurricane kit before summer.
Ready to plan your move to Virginia Beach?
Start with a live search of Virginia Beach homes for sale, then contact me or call or text (757) 919-8874. Tell me your move date, work location and must-haves, and I'll put together a tour of the right neighborhoods, in person or by video. You can also request my relocation guide on the contact page.
Barry Jenkins, Legacy Home Team at LPT Realty
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Virginia Beach city
- City of Virginia Beach Real Estate Assessor: Tax Rates
- City of Virginia Beach Treasurer: Real Estate
- City of Virginia Beach Treasurer: Personal Property
- Virginia Tax: 2025 Tax Rate Schedule
- Virginia Tax: Subtractions (Social Security and military benefits)
- VDEM: Know Your Zone
- City of Virginia Beach: Flood Protection Program
- VDOT: Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion
- VDOT: Hampton Roads Bridges and Tunnels
- Virginia DMV: New to Virginia
- VBCPS: School Locator
Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in Virginia Beach?
Housing is the biggest factor. The Census Bureau puts the median value of owner-occupied homes at $382,500 and median gross rent at $1,714 (2020-2024). Add the city's real estate tax of $0.97 per $100 of assessed value, vehicle personal property tax and Virginia income tax when you budget.
Does Virginia Beach get hurricanes?
Hurricanes and tropical storms can affect Virginia Beach, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. Know your evacuation zone through Virginia's Know Your Zone system, check flood zones before you buy and keep an emergency kit ready.
How bad is traffic in Virginia Beach, and what about the tunnels?
Traffic is heaviest on the interstates at rush hour and near the water crossings. Trips within Virginia Beach and to most of Norfolk don't require a tunnel. Crossings to the Peninsula use the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel or Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel, and the Downtown and Midtown tunnels to Portsmouth charge tolls.
How do I choose an area of Virginia Beach if I'm new to the city?
It depends on your commute, budget, school needs and how close you want to be to the water. A good start is comparing the Oceanfront and North End, Great Neck, Kempsville, Princess Anne, Red Mill and Town Center, then narrow down after a weekend of driving around.
How soon do I need a Virginia driver's license after moving?
Virginia DMV says new residents must get a Virginia driver's license within 60 days of moving and title and register their vehicles within 30 days. Some active-duty service members and their spouses have different rules, so check with DMV.
Does Virginia tax Social Security or military retirement?
Virginia doesn't tax Social Security benefits. For 2025 and later, Virginia lets eligible taxpayers subtract up to $40,000 of qualifying military benefits, including military retirement pay. See Virginia Tax for the details.
Should I rent first or buy right away?
Renting for a few months lets you learn the area, but you'll pay to move twice. If your job location is set and you can visit before buying, many people buy right away. A local agent can show you several areas in one trip so you can decide.