Ann Arbor MI vs Norfolk VA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Ann Arbor, MI

Michigan · Population: N/A

  • Median HH IncomeN/A
  • Median Home Price$531,674
  • UnemploymentN/A
  • Bachelor's+N/A

Norfolk, VA

Virginia · Population: 235,037

  • Median HH Income$64,017
  • Median Home Price$310,519
  • Unemployment6.1%
  • Bachelor's+32.7%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Ann Arbor
N/A
Norfolk
235,037
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Ann Arbor
N/A
Norfolk
N/A
Median Age
Ann Arbor
N/A
Norfolk
32.4
Foreign Born
Ann Arbor
N/A
Norfolk
7.7%
White
Ann Arbor
N/A
Norfolk
44.0%
Black
Ann Arbor
N/A
Norfolk
39.8%
Asian
Ann Arbor
N/A
Norfolk
3.7%
Hispanic
Ann Arbor
N/A
Norfolk
9.9%
Spanish at Home
Ann Arbor
N/A
Norfolk
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Ann Arbor
N/A
Norfolk
$64,017
Per Capita Income
Ann Arbor
N/A
Norfolk
$37,433
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Ann Arbor
$58,052
Norfolk
$69,581
Norfolk +
Unemployment Rate
Ann Arbor
N/A
Norfolk
6.1%
Poverty Rate
Ann Arbor
N/A
Norfolk
17.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
Ann Arbor
N/A
Norfolk
32.7%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Ann Arbor
$531,674
Norfolk
$310,519
Norfolk +
Homeownership Rate
Ann Arbor
N/A
Norfolk
45.7%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Ann Arbor
471
Norfolk
240
Norfolk +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Ann Arbor
1590
Ann Arbor +
Norfolk
1726

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Ann Arbor
25.8%
Ann Arbor +
Norfolk
39.9%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Ann Arbor
6.4%
Ann Arbor +
Norfolk
12.4%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Ann Arbor
18.3%
Ann Arbor +
Norfolk
19.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Ann Arbor
6.0%
Ann Arbor +
Norfolk
10.9%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Ann Arbor
18.3%
Norfolk
17.1%
Norfolk +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Ann Arbor
9.1%
Ann Arbor +
Norfolk
13.7%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Ann Arbor
48.4°F
Ann Arbor +
Norfolk
60.6°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Ann Arbor
N/A
Norfolk
50.8 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Ann Arbor
10.7 µg/m³
Norfolk
8.2 µg/m³
Norfolk +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Ann Arbor
55.0%
Norfolk
75.0%
Norfolk +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Ann Arbor
N/A
Norfolk
24.4 min

Which City is Right for You?

Norfolk offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $310,519. On public safety, Norfolk is safer with a violent crime rate of 240 per 100,000 residents, compared to 471 in Ann Arbor. Norfolk has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Ann Arbor scores better with a lower obesity rate of 25.8%.

Compare More Cities

About Ann Arbor & Norfolk