Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Berkeley leads 12 of 23 categories
Berkeley
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,385 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,562 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
15% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $1067k less ($213,300 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $842/mo less ($1,225 vs $2,067)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $47,562/yr
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$47,562
$104,716 vs $57,154/yr
Berkeley
Violent Crime
15% lower
638.8 vs 752.4 per 100k
Berkeley
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$1067k less
$213,300 vs $1,280,300
Portsmouth
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Berkeley leads 12 of 23 categories. Berkeley wins 12 and Portsmouth 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 Berkeley to Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $213,300 median home), income ($104,716 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Portsmouth, VA are about 2,498 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.