Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Allen leads 17 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
6
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.
Allen, TX
Pros
71% less violent crime than Suffolk
Households earn $33,501 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 49°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $390,200
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Rent averages $371/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,747)
Homes cost $76k less ($314,400 vs $390,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Allen
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $33,501/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Median Income
$33,501
$121,259 vs $87,758/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
71% lower
106.4 vs 371.0 per 100k
Allen
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.3% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$76k less
$314,400 vs $390,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $87,758 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 70.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 17 of 23 categories. Allen wins 17 and Suffolk wins 6. 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 Allen to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $314,400 median home), income ($121,259 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Suffolk, VA are about 1,160 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.