Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Arlington leads 16 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Norfolk
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,998
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
236,973
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Households earn $10,738 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 50°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Norfolk
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $109/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,297)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Arlington by $10,738/yr
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$10,738
$71,736 vs $60,998/yr
Arlington
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.7% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 88.7°F
Norfolk
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Violent Crime
3% lower
469.5 vs 482.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $254,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,188 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $60,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 45.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 236,973 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 16 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 16 and Norfolk wins 7. 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 Arlington to Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $254,200 median home), income ($71,736 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Norfolk, VA are about 1,217 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.