Below Average CostSafer than AverageSuffolk City Public Schools
Downtown Suffolk, VA · User: Kubigula / CC BY-SA 3.0Nansemond River is a major waterway in Suffolk, Virginia · Calstanhope / CC BY-SA 4.0RBOX 30437 · The original uploader was William Grimes at English Wikipedia. / Public domainDriver Beech Grove UMC · Nyttend / Public domain
Suffolk is a mid-sized city of 94,856 in Virginia, with a median household income of $87,758
and a 6.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is
3% below the national average.
Strengths:
Suffolk stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Suffolk is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Suffolk city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 97.4
Suffolk's overall cost of living index is 97.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Suffolk costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.
Metric
Suffolk, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$314,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,376
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$87,758
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Suffolk's violent crime rate is 371.0 per 100,000 residents
— 2% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
371.0 /100k
Property Crime
1570.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Suffolk is served primarily by Suffolk City Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Suffolk, VA
National Avg
School District
Suffolk City Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
11
—
Middle Schools
5
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
32.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Suffolk sees average highs of 49.3°F in January
and 86.8°F in July,
with 51.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 5.8 inches of snow per year.
Suffolk's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Suffolk roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $314,400 and median rent is $1,376/month.
Suffolk's violent crime rate is 371.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1570.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Suffolk are operated by Suffolk City Public Schools.
The district has 11 elementary, 5 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 32.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Suffolk, VA has a population of 94,856, a median household income of $87,758, and an unemployment rate of 6.3%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Suffolk averages 49.3°F in January and 86.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.8 inches
with about 5.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Suffolk, VA is covered by 7 ZIP codes: 23434, 23437, 23438, 23435, 23432, 23433, 23436.
The population of Suffolk, Virginia is 94,856 with a median age of 38.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Suffolk: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $314,400, median household income $87,758, crime index 89 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Suffolk side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
