Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 El Paso leads 13 of 22 categories
El Paso
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($159,300 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $400/mo less ($976 vs $1,376)
25% less violent crime than Suffolk
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Suffolk
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $32,048/yr
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $32,048 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.3%)
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than El Paso
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
25% lower
278.4 vs 371.0 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$155k less
$159,300 vs $314,400
El Paso
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Median Income
$32,048
$87,758 vs $55,710/yr
Suffolk
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, El Paso leads 13 of 22 categories. El Paso wins 13 and Suffolk wins 9. 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 El Paso to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $314,400 median home), income ($55,710 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Suffolk, VA are about 1,727 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.