Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norfolk, VA
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 15 of 23 categories
Norfolk
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$60,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
236,973
Tucson
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norfolk, VA
Pros
20% less violent crime than Tucson
Households earn $8,949 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 100°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tucson
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $197/mo less ($991 vs $1,188)
Homes cost $36k less ($218,200 vs $254,200)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 50°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Norfolk
Cons
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Norfolk by $8,949/yr
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Norfolk
Median Income
$8,949
$60,998 vs $52,049/yr
Norfolk
Violent Crime
20% lower
469.5 vs 588.8 per 100k
Tucson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Median Home Value
$36k less
$218,200 vs $254,200
Tucson
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 88.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norfolk, VA | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $254,200 | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,188 | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,998 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 158⚠ 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 | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norfolk City Public Schools | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.7" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 236,973 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norfolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 15 of 23 categories. Norfolk wins 8 and Tucson wins 15. 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,200 vs $218,200 median home), income ($60,998 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norfolk, VA and Tucson, AZ are about 1,987 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.