Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Long Beach leads 12 of 23 categories
Long Beach
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Norfolk
Virginia
11
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.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,997 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 50°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Norfolk
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $456k less ($254,200 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $510/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,698)
31% less violent crime than Long Beach
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
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 Long Beach by $17,997/yr
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Income
$17,997
$78,995 vs $60,998/yr
Norfolk
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Violent Crime
31% lower
469.5 vs 676.4 per 100k
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$456k less
$254,200 vs $709,700
Norfolk
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $254,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $1,188 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $60,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 45.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 236,973 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Long Beach leads 12 of 23 categories. Long Beach wins 12 and Norfolk wins 11. 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 Long Beach to Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $254,200 median home), income ($78,995 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Norfolk, VA are about 2,354 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.