Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashville-Davidson, TN
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Nashville-Davidson leads 11 of 20 categories
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Norfolk
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
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.
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $10,330 more per year on average
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Norfolk, VA
Pros
58% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Homes cost $97k less ($254,200 vs $351,400)
Rent averages $204/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,392)
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $10,330/yr
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$10,330
$71,328 vs $60,998/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.7% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.4 on the COL index
Norfolk
Violent Crime
58% lower
469.5 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$97k less
$254,200 vs $351,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashville-Davidson, TN | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $351,400⚠ High | $254,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $1,188 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,328 ✓ Higher | $60,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.5% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 296⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.5% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davidson County | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.7" | 45.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.7" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 684,103 ✓ Larger | 236,973 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashville-Davidson's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Nashville-Davidson leads 11 of 20 categories. Nashville-Davidson wins 11 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 Nashville-Davidson to Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($351,400 vs $254,200 median home), income ($71,328 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashville-Davidson, TN and Norfolk, VA are about 587 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.