Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 15 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
15
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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Suffolk by $16,085/yr
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.3%)
Suffolk, VA
Pros
31% less violent crime than Chicago
Households earn $16,085 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.3%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 32°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Chicago
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$16,085
$87,758 vs $71,673/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
31% lower
371.0 vs 539.8 per 100k
Suffolk
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.2% unemployment
Suffolk
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 15 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 8 and Suffolk wins 15. 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 Chicago to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $314,400 median home), income ($71,673 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Suffolk, VA are about 689 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.