Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845
Norfolk
Virginia
11
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.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $76,389 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Norfolk
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Norfolk
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $579k less ($254,200 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $1039/mo less ($1,188 vs $2,227)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $76,389/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 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$76,389
$137,387 vs $60,998/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
46% lower
254.4 vs 469.5 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
2.8% vs 6.7% unemployment
Norfolk
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$579k less
$254,200 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $254,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,188 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $60,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County 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 | 47.2" | 45.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 | 236,973 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington'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 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Norfolk wins 11. 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 ($833,300 vs $254,200 median home), income ($137,387 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Norfolk, VA are about 143 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.