Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Norfolk leads 15 of 23 categories
Compton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Norfolk
Virginia
15
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.
Compton, CA
Pros
Households earn $8,730 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 50°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Norfolk
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $235k less ($254,200 vs $489,400)
63% less violent crime than Compton
Rent averages $276/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,464)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.7%)
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Compton by $8,730/yr
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Income
$8,730
$69,728 vs $60,998/yr
Norfolk
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Violent Crime
63% lower
469.5 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$235k less
$254,200 vs $489,400
Norfolk
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.7% vs 7.9% unemployment
Norfolk
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High | $254,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,188 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 ✓ Higher | $60,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 7.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 32.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 45.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 236,973 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norfolk leads 15 of 23 categories. Compton wins 8 and Norfolk wins 15. 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 Compton to Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $254,200 median home), income ($69,728 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Norfolk, VA are about 2,354 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.