Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Chattanooga leads 12 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
Norfolk
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$60,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.1%)
Rent averages $122/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,188)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Homes cost $24k less ($230,500 vs $254,200)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Norfolk
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Norfolk by $3,295/yr
Norfolk, VA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Households earn $3,295 more per year on average
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
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.1%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Chattanooga
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$24k less
$230,500 vs $254,200
Chattanooga
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.7% unemployment
Norfolk
Median Income
$3,295
$60,998 vs $57,703/yr
Norfolk
Violent Crime
43% lower
469.5 vs 823.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $254,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,188 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $60,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 45.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 236,973 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 12 of 22 categories. Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga to Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $254,200 median home), income ($57,703 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Norfolk, VA are about 519 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.