Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Detroit, MI
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 16 of 23 categories
Detroit
Michigan
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$37,761
Violent Crime Index
469⚠ High
Population
636,787 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
16
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.
Detroit, MI
Pros
Homes cost $248k less ($66,700 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $387/mo less ($989 vs $1,376)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $49,997/yr
Violent crime (1781.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4305.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (14.7% vs 6.3%)
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $49,997 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 8.4 pts lower (6.3%)
79% less violent crime than Detroit
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 33°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
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Detroit
Median Home Value
$248k less
$66,700 vs $314,400
Suffolk
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$49,997
$87,758 vs $37,761/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
79% lower
371.0 vs 1781.3 per 100k
Suffolk
Unemployment
8.4 pp lower
6.3% vs 14.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Detroit, MI | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $66,700 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $989 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,761 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 14.7%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 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 | 363⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 469⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 205⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.9% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Detroit Public Schools Community District | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.0°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.9" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 636,787 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Detroit's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 16 of 23 categories. Detroit 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 Detroit to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($66,700 vs $314,400 median home), income ($37,761 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Detroit, MI and Suffolk, VA are about 522 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.