Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
9
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
23% less violent crime than Suffolk
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.8%)
Households earn $18,256 more per year on average
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $239k less ($314,400 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $330/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,706)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $18,256/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$18,256
$106,014 vs $87,758/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
23% lower
285.6 vs 371.0 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$239k less
$314,400 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $87,758 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 38.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 70.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 14 and Suffolk wins 9. 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 Arvada to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $314,400 median home), income ($106,014 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Suffolk, VA are about 1,555 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.