Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orlando, FL
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories
Orlando
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ 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.
Orlando, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 49°F
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Suffolk by $21,466/yr
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,509/mo
Suffolk, VA
Pros
56% less violent crime than Orlando
Households earn $21,466 more per year on average
Rent averages $133/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,509)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Homes cost $18k less ($314,400 vs $332,700)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Orlando
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Orlando
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 101.1 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$21,466
$87,758 vs $66,292/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
56% lower
371.0 vs 835.8 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$18k less
$314,400 vs $332,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Suffolk, 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 | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,509⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,292 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.4% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,738 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.2% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orlando's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories. Orlando 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 Orlando to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($332,700 vs $314,400 median home), income ($66,292 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orlando, FL and Suffolk, VA are about 633 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.