Below Average CostHigher than AverageNorfolk City Public Schools
Downtown Norfolk during the day 2 · Bruce Emmerling / CC BY-SA 4.0The Wisconsin Battleship in Norfolk, VA · Bruce Emmerling / CC BY-SA 4.0Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception (Norfolk, Virginia), exterior, rear quarter view · Nheyob / CC BY-SA 3.0Chryslermuseum · Gosscj at English Wikipedia / Public domain
Norfolk is a mid-sized city of 236,973 in Virginia, with a median household income of $60,998
and a 6.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is
3% below the national average.
Strengths:
Norfolk stands out for solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Norfolk is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Norfolk city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 97.4
Norfolk's overall cost of living index is 97.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Norfolk costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.
Metric
Norfolk, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$254,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,188
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
44.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$60,998
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Norfolk's violent crime rate is 469.5 per 100,000 residents
— 24% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
469.5 /100k
Property Crime
3772.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Norfolk is served primarily by Norfolk City Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Norfolk, VA
National Avg
School District
Norfolk City Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
30
—
Middle Schools
6
—
High Schools
5
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
32.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Norfolk sees average highs of 50.0°F in January
and 88.7°F in July,
with 45.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 3.0 inches of snow per year.
Norfolk's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Norfolk roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $254,200 and median rent is $1,188/month.
Norfolk's violent crime rate is 469.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3772.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Norfolk are operated by Norfolk City Public Schools.
The district has 30 elementary, 6 middle, and 5 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1. 32.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Norfolk, VA has a population of 236,973, a median household income of $60,998, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Norfolk averages 50.0°F in January and 88.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.7 inches
with about 3.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Norfolk, VA is covered by 14 ZIP codes: 23502, 23505, 23518, 23511, 23513, 23503, 23504, 23508, 23509, 23523, 23510, 23507, 23517, 23551.
The population of Norfolk, Virginia is 236,973 with a median age of 32.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Norfolk: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $254,200, median household income $60,998, crime index 146 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Norfolk side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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