Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oakland, CA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 15 of 23 categories
Oakland
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758
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.
Oakland, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 49°F
Households earn $6,631 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $569k less ($314,400 vs $883,800)
81% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $473/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,849)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $6,631/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Oakland
Median Income
$6,631
$94,389 vs $87,758/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Violent Crime
81% lower
371.0 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$569k less
$314,400 vs $883,800
Suffolk
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oakland, CA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,800⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,849⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,389 ✓ Higher | $87,758 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.5 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 507⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 344⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oakland Unified | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.5" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 437,825 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oakland's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 15 of 23 categories. Oakland 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 Oakland to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,800 vs $314,400 median home), income ($94,389 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oakland, CA and Suffolk, VA are about 2,484 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.