Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CA
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Portsmouth leads 12 of 22 categories
Norwalk
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,105 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Portsmouth
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $380k less ($213,300 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $635/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,860)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $34,105/yr
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Median Income
$34,105
$91,259 vs $57,154/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
50% lower
374.4 vs 752.4 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$380k less
$213,300 vs $593,100
Portsmouth
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CA | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,100⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,860⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,259 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.8:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 21.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.8% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,893 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.6% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 12 of 22 categories. Norwalk wins 10 and Portsmouth wins 12. 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 Norwalk to Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,100 vs $213,300 median home), income ($91,259 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CA and Portsmouth, VA are about 2,341 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.