Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norfolk, VA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Norfolk leads 14 of 22 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
Vallejo
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $261k less ($254,200 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $706/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,894)
37% less violent crime than Vallejo
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $25,114/yr
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
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,114 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Norfolk
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Violent Crime
37% lower
469.5 vs 739.8 per 100k
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$261k less
$254,200 vs $515,500
Norfolk
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 85.4°F
Vallejo
Median Income
$25,114
$86,112 vs $60,998/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norfolk, VA | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,200 ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,188 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,998 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norfolk City Public Schools | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.7" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 236,973 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norfolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Norfolk leads 14 of 22 categories. Norfolk wins 14 and Vallejo wins 8. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,200 vs $515,500 median home), income ($60,998 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norfolk, VA and Vallejo, CA are about 2,497 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.