Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 14 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 87°F
Households earn $7,973 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
63% less violent crime than Anchorage
Homes cost $49k less ($314,400 vs $363,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 21°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.2%)
Median income trails Anchorage by $7,973/yr
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$7,973
$95,731 vs $87,758/yr
Anchorage
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Violent Crime
63% lower
371.0 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$49k less
$314,400 vs $363,800
Suffolk
Summer Heat
19.4°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $87,758 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 14 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 9 and Suffolk wins 14. 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 Anchorage to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $314,400 median home), income ($95,731 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Suffolk, VA are about 3,475 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.