Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 19 of 23 categories
Compton
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Suffolk
Virginia
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Suffolk by $18,030/yr
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
71% less violent crime than Compton
Homes cost $175k less ($314,400 vs $489,400)
Households earn $18,030 more per year on average
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.3%)
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$18,030
$87,758 vs $69,728/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
71% lower
371.0 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$175k less
$314,400 vs $489,400
Suffolk
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.9% unemployment
Suffolk
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Suffolk, 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 | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 94,856 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 19 of 23 categories. Compton wins 4 and Suffolk wins 19. 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $314,400 median home), income ($69,728 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Suffolk, VA are about 2,335 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.