Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norfolk, VA
VS
Savannah, GA
🏆 Savannah leads 13 of 21 categories
Norfolk
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$60,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Savannah
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,748
Violent Crime Index
5 ✓ Safer
Population
147,583
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.7%)
Households earn $6,250 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Savannah, GA
Pros
96% less violent crime than Norfolk
Homes cost $51k less ($203,300 vs $254,200)
Violent crime is well below the national average (20.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 50°F
Cons
Median income trails Norfolk by $6,250/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Norfolk
Median Income
$6,250
$60,998 vs $54,748/yr
Norfolk
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
Savannah
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Savannah
Violent Crime
96% lower
20.3 vs 469.5 per 100k
Savannah
Median Home Value
$51k less
$203,300 vs $254,200
Savannah
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.3°F vs 88.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norfolk, VA | Savannah, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 95.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $254,200 | $203,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,188 ✓ Lower | $1,216 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,998 ✓ Higher | $54,748 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 5 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norfolk City Public Schools | Savannah-Chatham County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F | 61.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 92.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.7" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 236,973 ✓ Larger | 147,583 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norfolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Savannah's 95.6 (US average = 100).
Savannah is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Savannah leads 13 of 21 categories. Norfolk wins 8 and Savannah wins 13. 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 Savannah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,200 vs $203,300 median home), income ($60,998 vs $54,748), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norfolk, VA and Savannah, GA are about 441 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.