Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 19 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
19
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($314,400 vs $478,400)
24% less violent crime than Kent
Rent averages $366/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,742)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.3%)
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$792
$87,758 vs $86,966/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
24% lower
371.0 vs 489.7 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$164k less
$314,400 vs $478,400
Suffolk
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.6% unemployment
Suffolk
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 19 of 23 categories. Kent wins 4 and Suffolk wins 19. 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 Kent to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $314,400 median home), income ($86,966 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Suffolk, VA are about 2,414 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.