Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Haven, CT
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 15 of 23 categories
New Haven
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
15
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.
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($236,500 vs $314,400)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $33,453/yr
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 6.3%)
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $33,453 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than New Haven
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
New Haven
Median Home Value
$78k less
$236,500 vs $314,400
Suffolk
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$33,453
$87,758 vs $54,305/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
31% lower
371.0 vs 534.8 per 100k
Suffolk
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.8% unemployment
Suffolk
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Haven, CT | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.6 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,500 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,402⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,305 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.6% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 153⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 85.7% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Haven School District | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,736 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.6% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Haven's cost of living index is 98.6 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 15 of 23 categories. New Haven wins 8 and Suffolk wins 15. 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 New Haven to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,500 vs $314,400 median home), income ($54,305 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Haven, CT and Suffolk, VA are about 376 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.