Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 16 of 23 categories
Los Angeles
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ 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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 49°F
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $508k less ($314,400 vs $822,600)
49% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Rent averages $415/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,791)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.3%)
Households earn $11,514 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$11,514
$87,758 vs $76,244/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
49% lower
371.0 vs 728.5 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$508k less
$314,400 vs $822,600
Suffolk
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.7% unemployment
Suffolk
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles'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. Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $314,400 median home), income ($76,244 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Suffolk, VA are about 2,343 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.