Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norfolk, VA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 13 of 23 categories
Norfolk
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,998
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $128k less ($254,200 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $284/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,472)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 106°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tempe by $11,024/yr
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.7%)
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Households earn $11,024 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Norfolk
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$128k less
$254,200 vs $382,100
Tempe
Median Income
$11,024
$72,022 vs $60,998/yr
Tempe
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.7% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
17.2°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 88.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norfolk, VA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $254,200 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,188 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,998 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norfolk City Public Schools | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.7" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 236,973 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 32.2 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norfolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 13 of 23 categories. Norfolk wins 10 and Tempe 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,200 vs $382,100 median home), income ($60,998 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norfolk, VA and Tempe, AZ are about 2,019 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.