Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Boca Raton leads 15 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
8
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
54% less violent crime than Suffolk
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 49°F
Households earn $7,812 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Suffolk
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $283k less ($314,400 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $794/mo less ($1,376 vs $2,170)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $7,812/yr
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$7,812
$95,570 vs $87,758/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
54% lower
171.0 vs 371.0 per 100k
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$283k less
$314,400 vs $597,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $87,758 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 51.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 38.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 15 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 15 and Suffolk wins 8. 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 Boca Raton to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $314,400 median home), income ($95,570 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Suffolk, VA are about 742 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.