Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Alexandria leads 12 of 22 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Norfolk
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,998
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.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $52,181 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Norfolk
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Norfolk
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $402k less ($254,200 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $795/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,983)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 45°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $52,181/yr
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 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$52,181
$113,179 vs $60,998/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
53% lower
219.1 vs 469.5 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.7% unemployment
Norfolk
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$402k less
$254,200 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $254,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,188 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $60,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 45.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 236,973 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 12 of 22 categories. Alexandria wins 12 and Norfolk wins 10. 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 Alexandria to Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $254,200 median home), income ($113,179 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Norfolk, VA are about 139 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.