Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Portsmouth leads 16 of 23 categories
Compton
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Portsmouth
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
97,384 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,574 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Portsmouth
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $276k less ($213,300 vs $489,400)
41% less violent crime than Compton
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Rent averages $239/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,464)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.6%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Compton by $12,574/yr
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Income
$12,574
$69,728 vs $57,154/yr
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Violent Crime
41% lower
752.4 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$276k less
$213,300 vs $489,400
Portsmouth
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Portsmouth
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 21.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 97,384 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 16 of 23 categories. Compton wins 7 and Portsmouth 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 Compton to Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $213,300 median home), income ($69,728 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Portsmouth, VA are about 2,349 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.