Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Chico leads 12 of 23 categories
Chico
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Norfolk
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,998
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.
Chico, CA
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,934 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Norfolk
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $173k less ($254,200 vs $427,600)
33% less violent crime than Chico
Rent averages $172/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,360)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 95°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
Median income trails Chico by $4,934/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Median Income
$4,934
$65,932 vs $60,998/yr
Chico
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 88.7°F
Norfolk
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Violent Crime
33% lower
469.5 vs 699.2 per 100k
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$173k less
$254,200 vs $427,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $254,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $1,188 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 ✓ Higher | $60,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 45.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 236,973 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 32.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chico leads 12 of 23 categories. Chico 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 Chico to Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $254,200 median home), income ($65,932 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Norfolk, VA are about 2,451 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.