Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Buckeye leads 13 of 23 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Portsmouth
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
78% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Households earn $37,034 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $341,700
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $128k less ($213,300 vs $341,700)
Rent averages $372/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,597)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 107°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Buckeye
Cons
Median income trails Buckeye by $37,034/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 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Median Income
$37,034
$94,188 vs $57,154/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
78% lower
166.8 vs 752.4 per 100k
Buckeye
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
18.5°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$128k less
$213,300 vs $341,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 97,384 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 13 of 23 categories. Buckeye wins 13 and Portsmouth 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 Buckeye to Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $213,300 median home), income ($94,188 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Portsmouth, VA are about 2,051 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.