Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chula Vista, CA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 13 of 23 categories
Chula Vista
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,984 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
276,103 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758
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.
Chula Vista, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,226 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $647,100
Higher rents — median is $2,035/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Suffolk
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $333k less ($314,400 vs $647,100)
Rent averages $659/mo less ($1,376 vs $2,035)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.3%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Chula Vista
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Chula Vista by $14,226/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chula Vista
Median Income
$14,226
$101,984 vs $87,758/yr
Suffolk
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$333k less
$314,400 vs $647,100
Suffolk
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.8% unemployment
Suffolk
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 74.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chula Vista, CA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $647,100⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,035⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,984 ✓ Higher | $87,758 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.8%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.3% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chula Vista Elementary | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.6°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,103 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chula Vista's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 13 of 23 categories. Chula Vista wins 10 and Suffolk wins 13. 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 Chula Vista to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($647,100 vs $314,400 median home), income ($101,984 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chula Vista, CA and Suffolk, VA are about 2,295 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.