Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Norfolk leads 14 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470
Norfolk
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
16% less violent crime than Norfolk
Homes cost $27k less ($227,200 vs $254,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Median income trails Norfolk by $6,558/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 6.7%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Norfolk
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (6.7%)
Rent averages $181/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,369)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,558 more per year on average
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
16% lower
392.9 vs 469.5 per 100k
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$27k less
$227,200 vs $254,200
Norfolk
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Median Income
$6,558
$60,998 vs $54,440/yr
Norfolk
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
6.7% vs 9.5% unemployment
Norfolk
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $254,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,188 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $60,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 7.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 32.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 45.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 | 236,973 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norfolk leads 14 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 9 and Norfolk wins 14. 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 Bridgeport to Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $254,200 median home), income ($54,440 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Norfolk, VA are about 337 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.