Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norfolk, VA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Norfolk leads 13 of 23 categories
Norfolk
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,998
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Vancouver
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $149k less ($254,200 vs $403,400)
19% less violent crime than Vancouver
Rent averages $337/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,525)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
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 Vancouver by $12,628/yr
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.6%)
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Households earn $12,628 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Norfolk
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Violent Crime
19% lower
469.5 vs 582.3 per 100k
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$149k less
$254,200 vs $403,400
Norfolk
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Median Income
$12,628
$73,626 vs $60,998/yr
Vancouver
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norfolk, VA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,200 ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,188 ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,998 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norfolk City Public Schools | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.7" | 44.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 236,973 ✓ Larger | 190,700 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norfolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norfolk leads 13 of 23 categories. Norfolk wins 13 and Vancouver wins 10. 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,200 vs $403,400 median home), income ($60,998 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norfolk, VA and Vancouver, WA are about 2,445 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.