Virginia Beach

Best Virginia Beach suburbs for young professionals

Ranked on employment and income at 25%, amenities at 25%, commute at 20%, median rent at 15% (lower is better) and cost of living at 15%. Schools are not counted.

Updated Sep 2026·11 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
The Governor's Palace in Williamsburg, Virginia, 2pm on September 20, 2012, using a Nikon D80.
Williamsburg$428k median · 19.5 min commute
Employment FAmenities BCommute B+
65
Score
overall 66 C+
2
The Wisconsin Battleship in Norfolk, VA
Norfolk$290k median · 23.0 min commute
Employment D+Amenities B−Commute C+
63
Score
overall 58 C
3
Virginia Beach, VA, May 2021
Virginia Beach$383k median · 23.4 min commute
Employment C+Amenities B−Commute C
63
Score
overall 64 C+
4
A view of the Victory Arch in Newport News, Virginia
Newport News$261k median · 23.1 min commute
Employment DAmenities C−Commute C
57
Score
overall 55 C−
5
Elizabeth City, NC
Elizabeth City$188k median · 26.4 min commute
Employment FAmenities C+Commute C−
56
Score
overall 44 D
6
Hampton Downtown Historic District
Hampton$246k median · 22.5 min commute
Employment D−Amenities D+Commute C+
55
Score
overall 55 C−
7
Portsmouth, Va. (Aug. 20, 2003) -- Tug boats guide USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) up the Elizabeth River, past Portsmouth landmarks, to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth$247k median · 23.7 min commute
Employment FAmenities D+Commute C−
54
Score
overall 51 D+
8
Campus of the Virginia Marine Institute of Science in Gloucester Point, VA
Gloucester Point$321k median · 35.4 min commute
Employment D+Amenities D−Commute F
51
Score
overall 50 D+
9
Photo of workboats parked at the Poquoson Marina.
Poquoson$400k median · 27.2 min commute
Employment B−Amenities FCommute D+
47
Score
overall 54 C−
10
A sailboat on the Great Dismal Swamp Canal.
Chesapeake$378k median · 25.8 min commute
Employment CAmenities FCommute D+
44
Score
overall 52 D+
This list's weighting
Employment 25%Amenities 25%Commute 20%Median rent (lower is better) 15%Cost of living 15%
Other Virginia Beach lists
Best Virginia Beach suburbs for familiesMost affordable Virginia Beach suburbsBest Virginia Beach suburbs for schoolsShortest commutes to Downtown Virginia BeachMost walkable Virginia Beach suburbsHow we score Virginia Beach suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Williamsburg (Ron Cogswell · CC BY 2.0); Norfolk (Bruce Emmerling · CC BY-SA 4.0); Virginia Beach (DanRVA · CC BY-SA 4.0); Newport News (Smash the Iron Cage · CC BY-SA 4.0); Elizabeth City (Wikimedia Commons · Public domain); Hampton (Pejcharat · CC BY-SA 4.0); Portsmouth (U.S. Navy photo · Public domain); Gloucester Point (Carmenshields · CC BY 3.0); Poquoson (Chrisfortier · CC BY-SA 3.0); Chesapeake (US Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified · Public domain).