Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 El Paso leads 15 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Norfolk
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$60,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
236,973
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $95k less ($159,300 vs $254,200)
41% less violent crime than Norfolk
Rent averages $212/mo less ($976 vs $1,188)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Norfolk
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 50°F
Cons
Median income trails Norfolk by $5,288/yr
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $5,288 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°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 7% higher than El Paso
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
41% lower
278.4 vs 469.5 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$95k less
$159,300 vs $254,200
El Paso
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 88.7°F
Norfolk
Median Income
$5,288
$60,998 vs $55,710/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $254,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,188 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $60,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 7.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 32.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 45.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 236,973 |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 15 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 15 and Norfolk wins 8. 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 El Paso to Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $254,200 median home), income ($55,710 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Norfolk, VA are about 1,749 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.