Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Atlanta
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
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.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Suffolk by $10,103/yr
Suffolk, VA
Pros
56% less violent crime than Atlanta
Homes cost $81k less ($314,400 vs $395,600)
Households earn $10,103 more per year on average
Rent averages $136/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,512)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Atlanta
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$10,103
$87,758 vs $77,655/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
56% lower
371.0 vs 840.6 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$81k less
$314,400 vs $395,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Atlanta wins 11 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 Atlanta to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $314,400 median home), income ($77,655 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Suffolk, VA are about 484 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.