Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Norfolk leads 14 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Norfolk
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$60,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
236,973
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($87,400 vs $254,200)
Rent averages $337/mo less ($851 vs $1,188)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Norfolk
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 89°F
Cons
Median income trails Norfolk by $23,727/yr
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 6.7%)
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $23,727 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (6.7%)
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 35°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 9% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$167k less
$87,400 vs $254,200
Norfolk
Median Income
$23,727
$60,998 vs $37,271/yr
Norfolk
Violent Crime
70% lower
469.5 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Norfolk
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
6.7% vs 11.9% unemployment
Norfolk
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $254,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,188 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $60,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 32.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 45.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 236,973 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norfolk leads 14 of 23 categories. Cleveland 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 Cleveland to Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $254,200 median home), income ($37,271 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Norfolk, VA are about 428 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.