Grand Island vs Norfolk
Grand Island, Nebraska versus Norfolk, Nebraska: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Norfolk edges out Grand Island on overall objective livability (49 vs 44 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Grand Island | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $59k | $57k |
| Cost of Living | $45k | $43k |
| Home Value | $184k | $192k |
| Monthly Rent | $886 | $801 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.46% | 1.42% |
| Income Tax | 6.40% | 6.40% |
| Sales Tax | 6.97% | 6.97% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 13.25% | 13.46% |
| Unemployment | 3.1% | 2.6% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 26°F | 22°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 77°F | 75°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7 in | 27.0 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.7 in | 29.9 in |
| Sunny Days | 265 days | 254 days |
| Summer Humidity | 64°F | 64°F |
| Comfortable Days | 62 days | 69 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 60.1 | 70.6 |
| Air Quality | 42 AQI | — |
| School Quality | 44.6 | 43.9 |
| Violent Crime | 1979/100k | 615/100k |
| Property Crime | 2575/100k | 810/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 52,822 | 25,883 |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 36.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.49 | 0.28 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.05 | 0.98 |
| Political Leaning | R+36 | R+55 |
| White (%) | 59.2% | 79.5% |
| Black (%) | 3.5% | 1.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 34.0% | 14.3% |
| Asian (%) | 1.1% | 1.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 2.2% | 4.3% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 18 min | 13 min |
| Walkability | 10.0/20 | 9.4/20 |
| Airport Distance | 131 mi | 93 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 86.2% | 84.7% |
| Amenities Nearby | 18.93 | 11.59 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Grand Island or Norfolk more affordable?
- Norfolk has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Grand Island's $45k and Norfolk's $43k. Median rent is $886 in Grand Island versus $801 in Norfolk.
- Is Grand Island or Norfolk safer?
- Norfolk has the lower violent crime rate. Grand Island reports 1979/100k and Norfolk reports 615/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Grand Island or Norfolk?
- The median home value is $184k in Grand Island and $192k in Norfolk, so homes are more affordable in Grand Island.