Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norfolk, VA
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Norfolk leads 12 of 23 categories
Norfolk
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,998
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Salt Lake City
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($254,200 vs $458,600)
46% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 40°F
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 Salt Lake City by $11,359/yr
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 3.6%)
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $11,359 more per year on average
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Norfolk
Violent Crime
46% lower
469.5 vs 864.2 per 100k
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$204k less
$254,200 vs $458,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.4 on the COL index
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$11,359
$72,357 vs $60,998/yr
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norfolk, VA | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $254,200 ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,188 ✓ Lower | $1,254 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,998 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norfolk City Public Schools | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.7" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 236,973 ✓ Larger | 201,269 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 32.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norfolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norfolk leads 12 of 23 categories. Norfolk wins 12 and Salt Lake City 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 Norfolk to Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,200 vs $458,600 median home), income ($60,998 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norfolk, VA and Salt Lake City, UT are about 1,925 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.