Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Dallas leads 13 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Norfolk
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,998
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.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 36.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 50°F
Households earn $2,987 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Norfolk
Norfolk, VA
Pros
29% less violent crime than Dallas
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $117/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,305)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 97°F
Homes cost $17k less ($254,200 vs $270,700)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
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 5.0%)
Median income trails Dallas by $2,987/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Median Income
$2,987
$63,985 vs $60,998/yr
Dallas
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.7% unemployment
Dallas
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 88.7°F
Norfolk
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Violent Crime
29% lower
469.5 vs 658.2 per 100k
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$17k less
$254,200 vs $270,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 | $254,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 | $1,188 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 ✓ Higher | $60,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" ✓ Drier | 45.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 236,973 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dallas leads 13 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 13 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 Dallas to Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $254,200 median home), income ($63,985 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Norfolk, VA are about 1,195 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.