Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portsmouth, VA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Portsmouth leads 14 of 23 categories
Portsmouth
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
97,384
Tacoma
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $202k less ($213,300 vs $415,300)
29% less violent crime than Tacoma
Rent averages $264/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,489)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $21,931/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 5.4%)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $21,931 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
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
Violent Crime
29% lower
752.4 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$202k less
$213,300 vs $415,300
Portsmouth
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$21,931
$79,085 vs $57,154/yr
Tacoma
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portsmouth, VA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,300 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,225 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,154 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portsmouth City Public Schools | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,384 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 14 of 23 categories. Portsmouth wins 14 and Tacoma wins 9. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,300 vs $415,300 median home), income ($57,154 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portsmouth, VA and Tacoma, WA are about 2,433 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.