Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alafaya, FL
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 11 of 20 categories
Alafaya
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,531
Suffolk
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alafaya, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 47.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 49°F
Households earn $5,493 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $361,800
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Rent averages $392/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,768)
Homes cost $47k less ($314,400 vs $361,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Alafaya
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.4%)
Median income trails Alafaya by $5,493/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Alafaya
Median Income
$5,493
$93,251 vs $87,758/yr
Alafaya
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Alafaya
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 101.1 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$47k less
$314,400 vs $361,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alafaya, FL | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $361,800⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,251 ✓ Higher | $87,758 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 89 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 98 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 75 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.2°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.2" | 51.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,531 | 94,856 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.4% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alafaya's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 11 of 20 categories. Alafaya wins 9 and Suffolk wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alafaya to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($361,800 vs $314,400 median home), income ($93,251 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alafaya, FL and Suffolk, VA are about 623 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.