Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gainesville, FL
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Gainesville leads 15 of 23 categories
Gainesville
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,414 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gainesville, FL
Pros
More college-educated — 50.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 49°F
Cons
Violent crime (738.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Portsmouth by $13,371/yr
Property crime (2703.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Households earn $13,371 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gainesville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.9 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Gainesville
Violent Crime
2% lower
738.0 vs 752.4 per 100k
Gainesville
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Gainesville
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Median Income
$13,371
$57,154 vs $43,783/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.9 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $216,600 | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,151 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $57,154 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.2:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALACHUA | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.1°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 50.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,414 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 26.0 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.5% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gainesville's cost of living index is 96.9 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Gainesville is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gainesville leads 15 of 23 categories. Gainesville wins 15 and Portsmouth wins 8. 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 Gainesville to Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($216,600 vs $213,300 median home), income ($43,783 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gainesville, FL and Portsmouth, VA are about 605 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.