Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Plano leads 17 of 23 categories
Plano
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
6
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.
Plano, TX
Pros
59% less violent crime than Suffolk
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $17,921 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $98k less ($314,400 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $323/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,699)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $17,921/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Median Income
$17,921
$105,679 vs $87,758/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
59% lower
151.6 vs 371.0 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$98k less
$314,400 vs $412,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 ✓ Higher | $87,758 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 38.9 ✓ Older | 38.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 17 of 23 categories. Plano wins 17 and Suffolk wins 6. 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 Plano to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $314,400 median home), income ($105,679 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Suffolk, VA are about 1,165 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.