Residential comparison · 13 facts
Arlington, VA vs Norfolk, VA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Arlington needs about $67,500 in Norfolk to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Norfolk, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $102,500 in Arlington.
A few differences
- Arlington is higher on median household income ($142,114 vs $66,109).
- Norfolk is lower on cost of living index (94 vs 148).
- Norfolk is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,256/mo vs $2,666/mo).
Arlington vs Norfolk · facet by facet
| Facet | Arlington, VA | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $895,000 | $289,900 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $2,666/mo | $1,256/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.87% | 0.87% |
| State & local income tax | 4.36% | 4.36% |
| Sales tax | 5.75% | 5.75% |
| Cost of living index | 148 | 94 |
| Groceries index | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | $175/mo | $175/mo |
| Median household income | $142,114 | $66,109 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% | 2.9% |
| Crime index | 32/100 | 32/100 |
| School rating | 6.8/10 | 6.8/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 210 days | 210 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Arlington, VA · Norfolk, VA
Questions & answers
- Is Arlington cheaper than Norfolk?
- Norfolk has the lower day-to-day cost index (94 vs 148 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Norfolk equals $85,000 in Arlington?
- A household earning $85,000 in Arlington needs about $67,500 in Norfolk to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Norfolk lifestyle costs about $102,500 in Arlington.