Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portsmouth, VA
VS
Salinas, CA
🏆 Portsmouth leads 13 of 23 categories
Portsmouth
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Salinas
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,250 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
162,783 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $360k less ($213,300 vs $573,600)
Rent averages $570/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,795)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Salinas
More college-educated — 21.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Salinas by $27,096/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 5.0%)
Salinas, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,096 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $573,600
Higher rents — median is $1,795/mo
Violent crime (524.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Portsmouth
Key Differences at a Glance
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$360k less
$213,300 vs $573,600
Portsmouth
Summer Heat
17.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 70.7°F
Salinas
Median Income
$27,096
$84,250 vs $57,154/yr
Salinas
Violent Crime
30% lower
524.5 vs 752.4 per 100k
Salinas
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portsmouth, VA | Salinas, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,300 ✓ Lower | $573,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,225 ✓ Lower | $1,795⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,154 | $84,250 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 3.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 192⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 15.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 62.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portsmouth City Public Schools | Alisal Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F | 62.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 70.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 12.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,384 | 162,783 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 31.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 29.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Salinas's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 13 of 23 categories. Portsmouth wins 13 and Salinas 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 Portsmouth to Salinas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,300 vs $573,600 median home), income ($57,154 vs $84,250), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portsmouth, VA and Salinas, CA are about 2,482 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.