Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Livonia, MI
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Livonia leads 13 of 23 categories
Livonia
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
Portsmouth
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Livonia, MI
Pros
Households earn $35,304 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $36k less ($213,300 vs $249,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 30°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Livonia by $35,304/yr
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Livonia
Median Income
$35,304
$92,458 vs $57,154/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
70% lower
228.1 vs 752.4 per 100k
Livonia
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$36k less
$213,300 vs $249,000
Portsmouth
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Livonia, MI | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $249,000 | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,458 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.1% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Livonia Public Schools School District | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.4°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.9°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.0" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.0" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,928 | 97,384 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 45.2 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Livonia's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Livonia leads 13 of 23 categories. Livonia 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 Livonia to Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($249,000 vs $213,300 median home), income ($92,458 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Livonia, MI and Portsmouth, VA are about 534 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.