Residential comparison · 13 facts
Norfolk, VA vs Virginia Beach, 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 Norfolk needs about $91,500 in Virginia Beach to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Virginia Beach, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $78,500 in Norfolk.
A few differences
- Norfolk is lower on property tax rate (0.87% vs 1%).
- Norfolk is lower on sales tax (5.75% vs 6%).
- Norfolk is lower on groceries index (100 vs 101).
Norfolk vs Virginia Beach · facet by facet
| Facet | Norfolk, VA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $289,900 | $400,000 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,256/mo | $1,750/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.87% | 1% |
| State & local income tax | 4.36% | 4.36% |
| Sales tax | 5.75% | 6% |
| Cost of living index | 94 | 100 |
| Groceries index | 100 | 101 |
| Utilities | $175/mo | $170/mo |
| Median household income | $66,109 | $87,000 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% | 3.2% |
| Crime index | 32/100 | 30/100 |
| School rating | 6.8/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 210 days | 213 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: Norfolk, VA · Virginia Beach, VA
Questions & answers
- Is Norfolk cheaper than Virginia Beach?
- Norfolk has the lower day-to-day cost index (94 vs 100 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Virginia Beach equals $85,000 in Norfolk?
- A household earning $85,000 in Norfolk needs about $91,500 in Virginia Beach to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Virginia Beach lifestyle costs about $78,500 in Norfolk.