Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norfolk, VA
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno leads 14 of 23 categories
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
Reno
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $208k less ($254,200 vs $462,100)
11% less violent crime than Reno
Rent averages $172/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,360)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
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 Reno by $12,075/yr
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.0%)
Reno, NV
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $12,075 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Norfolk
Key Differences at a Glance
Norfolk
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Violent Crime
11% lower
469.5 vs 529.6 per 100k
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$208k less
$254,200 vs $462,100
Reno
Median Income
$12,075
$73,073 vs $60,998/yr
Reno
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.7% unemployment
Reno
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 88.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norfolk, VA | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,200 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,188 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,998 | $73,073 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norfolk City Public Schools | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer | 45.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.7" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 236,973 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norfolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 14 of 23 categories. Norfolk wins 9 and Reno wins 14. 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 Norfolk to Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,200 vs $462,100 median home), income ($60,998 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norfolk, VA and Reno, NV are about 2,350 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.