Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portsmouth, VA
VS
Roswell, GA
🏆 Roswell leads 15 of 22 categories
Portsmouth
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384 ✓ Larger
Roswell
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $266k less ($213,300 vs $479,400)
Rent averages $394/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,619)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Roswell
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $65,770/yr
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
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.3%)
Roswell, GA
Pros
Households earn $65,770 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Portsmouth
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $479,400
Higher rents — median is $1,619/mo
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Portsmouth
Key Differences at a Glance
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$266k less
$213,300 vs $479,400
Roswell
Median Income
$65,770
$122,924 vs $57,154/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
79% lower
160.1 vs 752.4 per 100k
Roswell
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portsmouth, VA | Roswell, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,300 ✓ Lower | $479,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,225 ✓ Lower | $1,619⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,154 | $122,924 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 192⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% | 63.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portsmouth City Public Schools | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,384 ✓ Larger | 92,770 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% | 70.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Roswell's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Roswell leads 15 of 22 categories. Portsmouth wins 7 and Roswell 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 Roswell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,300 vs $479,400 median home), income ($57,154 vs $122,924), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portsmouth, VA and Roswell, GA are about 490 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.