Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Grand Rapids, MI
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Grand Rapids leads 13 of 23 categories
Grand Rapids
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,634 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
More college-educated — 39.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $4,480 more per year on average
Rent averages $87/mo less ($1,138 vs $1,225)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 75" of snow per year
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
17% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 31°F
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 5.6%)
Median income trails Grand Rapids by $4,480/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Rapids
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Grand Rapids
Median Income
$4,480
$61,634 vs $57,154/yr
Grand Rapids
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Portsmouth
Violent Crime
17% lower
752.4 vs 910.1 per 100k
Portsmouth
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Grand Rapids, MI | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $203,900 ✓ Lower | $213,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,138 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,634 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 240⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.3% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Grand Rapids Public Schools | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.4°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.6" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 74.9" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,096 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.5% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Rapids's cost of living index is 95.2 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Grand Rapids is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Grand Rapids leads 13 of 23 categories. Grand Rapids wins 13 and Portsmouth 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 Grand Rapids to Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($203,900 vs $213,300 median home), income ($61,634 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Grand Rapids, MI and Portsmouth, VA are about 648 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.