Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 16 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
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.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $227k less ($87,400 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $525/mo less ($851 vs $1,376)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Suffolk
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $50,487/yr
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 6.3%)
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $50,487 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (6.3%)
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 35°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Cleveland
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$227k less
$87,400 vs $314,400
Suffolk
Median Income
$50,487
$87,758 vs $37,271/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
76% lower
371.0 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Suffolk
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
6.3% vs 11.9% unemployment
Suffolk
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 16 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 7 and Suffolk wins 16. 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 Cleveland to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $314,400 median home), income ($37,271 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Suffolk, VA are about 427 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.