Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hampton, VA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Hampton leads 12 of 22 categories
Hampton
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hampton, VA
Pros
Homes cost $95k less ($219,800 vs $314,400)
33% less violent crime than Suffolk
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $121/mo less ($1,255 vs $1,376)
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $23,328/yr
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $23,328 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Violent Crime
33% lower
247.6 vs 371.0 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$95k less
$219,800 vs $314,400
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.4 on the COL index
Suffolk
Median Income
$23,328
$87,758 vs $64,430/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hampton, VA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $219,800 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,430 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 94 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hampton City Public Schools | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,217 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Hampton leads 12 of 22 categories. Hampton wins 12 and Suffolk 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 Hampton to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($219,800 vs $314,400 median home), income ($64,430 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hampton, VA and Suffolk, VA are about 31 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.