Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 12 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Suffolk
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $21,510 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Suffolk
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Rent averages $532/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,908)
Homes cost $79k less ($314,400 vs $393,700)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $21,510/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$21,510
$109,268 vs $87,758/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$79k less
$314,400 vs $393,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $87,758 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 89 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 98 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 75 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 94,856 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 12 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 8 and Suffolk wins 12. 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 Germantown to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $314,400 median home), income ($109,268 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Suffolk, VA are about 175 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.