Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 14 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
14
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.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $180k less ($314,400 vs $494,100)
53% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $289/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,665)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Households earn $4,972 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$4,972
$87,758 vs $82,786/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
53% lower
371.0 vs 787.2 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$180k less
$314,400 vs $494,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 14 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 9 and Suffolk wins 14. 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 Lakewood to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $314,400 median home), income ($82,786 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Suffolk, VA are about 1,554 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.