Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories
Pasadena
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
10
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.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $10,060 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $667k less ($314,400 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $724/mo less ($1,376 vs $2,100)
23% less violent crime than Pasadena
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $10,060/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$10,060
$97,818 vs $87,758/yr
Pasadena
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Violent Crime
23% lower
371.0 vs 480.4 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$667k less
$314,400 vs $981,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $87,758 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 38.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories. Pasadena wins 13 and Suffolk wins 10. 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 Pasadena to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $314,400 median home), income ($97,818 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Suffolk, VA are about 2,325 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.