Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Abilene leads 14 of 22 categories
Abilene
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356
Norfolk
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$60,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($161,800 vs $254,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (2.8%)
10% less violent crime than Norfolk
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Rent averages $128/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,188)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Norfolk, VA
Pros
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 2.8%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Abilene
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Violent Crime
10% lower
424.5 vs 469.5 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$92k less
$161,800 vs $254,200
Abilene
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
2.8% vs 6.7% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 88.7°F
Norfolk
Median Income
$1,744
$60,998 vs $59,254/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $254,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,188 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $60,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 7.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 32.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 45.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 236,973 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Abilene leads 14 of 22 categories. Abilene wins 14 and Norfolk wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $254,200 median home), income ($59,254 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Norfolk, VA are about 1,366 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.