Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories
Mesa
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
12
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.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Suffolk by $13,992/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Suffolk, VA
Pros
23% less violent crime than Mesa
Households earn $13,992 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
19.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$13,992
$87,758 vs $73,766/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
23% lower
371.0 vs 482.7 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$13k less
$314,400 vs $327,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories. Mesa wins 11 and Suffolk wins 12. 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 Mesa to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $314,400 median home), income ($73,766 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and Suffolk, VA are about 1,986 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.