Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $173k less ($141,900 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $353/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,376)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 49°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Suffolk
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $37,266/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 6.3%)
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $37,266 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.3%)
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$173k less
$141,900 vs $314,400
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Median Income
$37,266
$87,758 vs $50,492/yr
Suffolk
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 89 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 98 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 75 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Augusta-Richmond County wins 10 and Suffolk wins 10. 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $314,400 median home), income ($50,492 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Suffolk, VA are about 384 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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