Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portsmouth, VA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 13 of 22 categories
Portsmouth
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $101k less ($213,300 vs $314,400)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $151/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,376)
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $30,604/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
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $30,604 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than Portsmouth
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$101k less
$213,300 vs $314,400
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.4 on the COL index
Suffolk
Median Income
$30,604
$87,758 vs $57,154/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
51% lower
371.0 vs 752.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portsmouth, VA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $213,300 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,225 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,154 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 192⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portsmouth City Public Schools | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,384 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 13 of 22 categories. Portsmouth wins 9 and Suffolk wins 13. 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,300 vs $314,400 median home), income ($57,154 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portsmouth, VA and Suffolk, VA are about 19 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.