Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hoover, AL
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Hoover leads 17 of 22 categories
Hoover
Alabama
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Suffolk
Virginia
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
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.
Hoover, AL
Pros
79% less violent crime than Suffolk
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,007 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $52k less ($314,400 vs $366,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $14,007/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.9%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Hoover
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$14,007
$101,765 vs $87,758/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
79% lower
78.0 vs 371.0 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.3% unemployment
Hoover
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$52k less
$314,400 vs $366,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hoover, AL | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $366,200⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,765 ✓ Higher | $87,758 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.7% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hoover City | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 59.0" | 51.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,995 | 94,856 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.5% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoover's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Hoover leads 17 of 22 categories. Hoover wins 17 and Suffolk wins 5. 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 Hoover to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($366,200 vs $314,400 median home), income ($101,765 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hoover, AL and Suffolk, VA are about 619 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.