Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Vegas, NV
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Las Vegas leads 13 of 23 categories
Las Vegas
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,356 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
43% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Households earn $9,202 more per year on average
More college-educated — 26.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $365,300
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 6.6%)
Higher rents — median is $1,356/mo
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($213,300 vs $365,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.6%)
Rent averages $131/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,356)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Las Vegas
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Las Vegas by $9,202/yr
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Vegas
Median Income
$9,202
$66,356 vs $57,154/yr
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
43% lower
429.8 vs 752.4 per 100k
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
15.8°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$152k less
$213,300 vs $365,300
Portsmouth
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $365,300⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,356⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,356 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 min | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.3% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.1" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 644,835 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.6 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 13 of 23 categories. Las Vegas wins 13 and Portsmouth wins 10. 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 Las Vegas to Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($365,300 vs $213,300 median home), income ($66,356 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Vegas, NV and Portsmouth, VA are about 2,145 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.