Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 17 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
113,525 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gresham, OR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Median income trails Suffolk by $18,321/yr
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Suffolk
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($314,400 vs $411,700)
10% less violent crime than Gresham
Households earn $18,321 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Rent averages $76/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,452)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$18,321
$87,758 vs $69,437/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
10% lower
371.0 vs 410.2 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$97k less
$314,400 vs $411,700
Suffolk
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 17 of 23 categories. Gresham wins 6 and Suffolk wins 17. 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 Gresham to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $314,400 median home), income ($69,437 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Suffolk, VA are about 2,426 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.