Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Glendale leads 14 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$66,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Norfolk
Virginia
9
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.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 50°F
Households earn $5,377 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $310,000
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $56k less ($254,200 vs $310,000)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 105°F
Rent averages $80/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,268)
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
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.7%)
Median income trails Glendale by $5,377/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$5,377
$66,375 vs $60,998/yr
Glendale
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.7% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
16.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 88.7°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.6 on the COL index
Norfolk
Violent Crime
4% lower
469.5 vs 488.4 per 100k
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$56k less
$254,200 vs $310,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High | $254,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 | $1,188 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 ✓ Higher | $60,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 32.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 45.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 236,973 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 14 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 14 and Norfolk wins 9. 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 Glendale to Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $254,200 median home), income ($66,375 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Norfolk, VA are about 2,030 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.