Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greensboro, NC
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Greensboro leads 14 of 23 categories
Greensboro
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,051
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
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.
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Rent averages $177/mo less ($1,048 vs $1,225)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 39.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Homes cost $16k less ($197,200 vs $213,300)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Portsmouth
Cons
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
19% less violent crime than Greensboro
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%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Greensboro
Key Differences at a Glance
Greensboro
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Greensboro
Median Home Value
$16k less
$197,200 vs $213,300
Greensboro
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Portsmouth
Median Income
$2,103
$57,154 vs $55,051/yr
Portsmouth
Violent Crime
19% lower
752.4 vs 923.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greensboro, NC | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $213,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,048 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,051 | $57,154 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 210⚠ High | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 161⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.9% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.1" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 297,202 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.6% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.6% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greensboro's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Greensboro is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Greensboro leads 14 of 23 categories. Greensboro wins 14 and Portsmouth 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 Greensboro to Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $213,300 median home), income ($55,051 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greensboro, NC and Portsmouth, VA are about 200 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.