Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 16 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
16
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.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 49°F
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Suffolk by $16,391/yr
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Suffolk
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Suffolk, VA
Pros
56% less violent crime than Lancaster
Households earn $16,391 more per year on average
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.3%)
Homes cost $54k less ($314,400 vs $368,800)
Rent averages $200/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,576)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$16,391
$87,758 vs $71,367/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
56% lower
371.0 vs 834.7 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$54k less
$314,400 vs $368,800
Suffolk
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 16 of 23 categories. Lancaster wins 7 and Suffolk wins 16. 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 Lancaster to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $314,400 median home), income ($71,367 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Suffolk, VA are about 2,317 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.