Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Fort Worth leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Norfolk
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,998
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.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Households earn $11,728 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 50°F
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Norfolk
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $125/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,313)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 97°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Worth by $11,728/yr
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Median Income
$11,728
$72,726 vs $60,998/yr
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
2% lower
458.4 vs 469.5 per 100k
Fort Worth
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.7% unemployment
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 88.7°F
Norfolk
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 ✓ Lower | $254,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 | $1,188 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 ✓ Higher | $60,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 32.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" ✓ Drier | 45.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 236,973 |
| Median Age | 33.2 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth'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, Fort Worth leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth to Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $254,200 median home), income ($72,726 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and Norfolk, VA are about 1,228 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.