Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norfolk, VA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Norfolk leads 14 of 23 categories
Norfolk
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,998
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($254,200 vs $415,300)
56% less violent crime than Tacoma
Rent averages $301/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,489)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Commutes run 7 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 Tacoma by $18,087/yr
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.4%)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $18,087 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Norfolk
Key Differences at a Glance
Norfolk
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Violent Crime
56% lower
469.5 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$161k less
$254,200 vs $415,300
Norfolk
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$18,087
$79,085 vs $60,998/yr
Tacoma
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norfolk, VA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,200 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,188 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,998 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norfolk City Public Schools | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.7" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 236,973 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norfolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norfolk leads 14 of 23 categories. Norfolk wins 14 and Tacoma 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 Norfolk to Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,200 vs $415,300 median home), income ($60,998 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norfolk, VA and Tacoma, WA are about 2,436 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.