Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portsmouth, VA
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke leads 15 of 22 categories
Portsmouth
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Roanoke
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Households earn $5,631 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Rent averages $308/mo less ($917 vs $1,225)
18% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Homes cost $51k less ($162,000 vs $213,300)
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Portsmouth
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Portsmouth by $5,631/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Portsmouth
Median Income
$5,631
$57,154 vs $51,523/yr
Roanoke
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Violent Crime
18% lower
620.4 vs 752.4 per 100k
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$51k less
$162,000 vs $213,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portsmouth, VA | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,300 | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,225 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,154 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 192⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% | 28.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portsmouth City Public Schools | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,384 | 99,213 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 22.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 15 of 22 categories. Portsmouth wins 7 and Roanoke wins 15. 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 Portsmouth to Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,300 vs $162,000 median home), income ($57,154 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portsmouth, VA and Roanoke, VA are about 201 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.