Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Dallas leads 13 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
10
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.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.0%)
Homes cost $44k less ($270,700 vs $314,400)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 36.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 49°F
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $23,773/yr
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
44% less violent crime than Dallas
Households earn $23,773 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.0%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Median Home Value
$44k less
$270,700 vs $314,400
Dallas
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
Dallas
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$23,773
$87,758 vs $63,985/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
44% lower
371.0 vs 658.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dallas leads 13 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 13 and Suffolk wins 10. 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 Dallas to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $314,400 median home), income ($63,985 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Suffolk, VA are about 1,172 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.