Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pearland, TX
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Pearland leads 16 of 23 categories
Pearland
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pearland, TX
Pros
74% less violent crime than Suffolk
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.2%)
Households earn $23,365 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 49°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Rent averages $246/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,622)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $23,365/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Median Income
$23,365
$111,123 vs $87,758/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
74% lower
95.9 vs 371.0 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pearland, TX | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,622⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,123 ✓ Higher | $87,758 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PEARLAND ISD | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.3" | 51.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,478 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 36.2 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 70.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pearland's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 16 of 23 categories. Pearland wins 16 and Suffolk wins 7. 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 Pearland to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($311,100 vs $314,400 median home), income ($111,123 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pearland, TX and Suffolk, VA are about 1,186 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.