Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orlando, FL
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Portsmouth leads 13 of 23 categories
Orlando
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orlando, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,138 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $332,700
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,509/mo
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($213,300 vs $332,700)
10% less violent crime than Orlando
Rent averages $284/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,509)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Orlando
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Orlando by $9,138/yr
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Orlando
Median Income
$9,138
$66,292 vs $57,154/yr
Orlando
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Orlando
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 101.1 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Violent Crime
10% lower
752.4 vs 835.8 per 100k
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$119k less
$213,300 vs $332,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $332,700⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,509⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,292 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.4% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 50.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,738 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.2% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orlando's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 13 of 23 categories. Orlando wins 10 and Portsmouth wins 13. 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 Orlando to Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($332,700 vs $213,300 median home), income ($66,292 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orlando, FL and Portsmouth, VA are about 649 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.