Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Irving leads 15 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ 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.
Irving, TX
Pros
41% less violent crime than Norfolk
Households earn $15,688 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 50°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Norfolk
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Rent averages $235/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,423)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
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 Irving by $15,688/yr
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Income
$15,688
$76,686 vs $60,998/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
41% lower
275.4 vs 469.5 per 100k
Irving
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.7% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°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 | Irving, TX | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 | $254,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $1,188 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $60,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 45.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 236,973 |
| Median Age | 32.4 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving'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, Irving leads 15 of 23 categories. Irving 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 Irving to Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $254,200 median home), income ($76,686 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Norfolk, VA are about 1,205 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.