Norton is a small town of 3,668 in Virginia, with a median household income of $36,974
and a 7.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Norton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Norton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Norton 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: 88.2
Norton's overall cost of living index is 88.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Norton costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Norton, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$104,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$613
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
53.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$36,974
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Norton's violent crime rate is 231.3 per 100,000 residents
— 39% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
231.3 /100k
Property Crime
10266.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Norton is served primarily by Norton City Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Norton, VA
National Avg
School District
Norton City Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Norton sees average highs of 42.6°F in January
and 80.6°F in July,
with 51.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 47.1 inches of snow per year.
Norton's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Norton roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $104,200 and median rent is $613/month.
Norton's violent crime rate is 231.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 10266.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Norton are operated by Norton City Public Schools.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. 19.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Norton, VA has a population of 3,668, a median household income of $36,974, and an unemployment rate of 7.3%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Norton averages 42.6°F in January and 80.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.6 inches
with about 47.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Norton, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 24273.
The population of Norton, Virginia is 3,668 with a median age of 43.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Norton: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $104,200, median household income $36,974, crime index 232 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Norton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
