Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
12
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.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($235,000 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $141/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,376)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 49°F
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $27,318/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $27,318 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Houston
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Median Home Value
$79k less
$235,000 vs $314,400
Houston
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$27,318
$87,758 vs $60,440/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
68% lower
371.0 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 51.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories. Houston wins 11 and Suffolk wins 12. 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 Houston to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $314,400 median home), income ($60,440 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Suffolk, VA are about 1,182 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.