Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Suffolk
Households earn $25,421 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $341k less ($314,400 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $607/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,983)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $25,421/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$25,421
$113,179 vs $87,758/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
41% lower
219.1 vs 371.0 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$341k less
$314,400 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $87,758 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 11 and Suffolk wins 12. 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 Alexandria to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $314,400 median home), income ($113,179 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Suffolk, VA are about 149 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.