Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Augusta-Richmond County leads 12 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615
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.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $112k less ($141,900 vs $254,200)
Rent averages $165/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,188)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 50°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Norfolk
Cons
Median income trails Norfolk by $10,506/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 6.7%)
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $10,506 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.7%)
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°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
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$112k less
$141,900 vs $254,200
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 88.7°F
Norfolk
Median Income
$10,506
$60,998 vs $50,492/yr
Norfolk
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.7% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $254,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,188 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $60,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 7.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 32.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 45.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 | 236,973 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Augusta-Richmond County leads 12 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 12 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $254,200 median home), income ($50,492 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Norfolk, VA are about 411 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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