Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portsmouth, VA
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Portsmouth leads 17 of 23 categories
Portsmouth
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
97,384 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
27% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (6.6%)
Households earn $12,710 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 21.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 40°F
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
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $102k less ($111,200 vs $213,300)
Cons
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Portsmouth by $12,710/yr
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 6.6%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Portsmouth
Key Differences at a Glance
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Income
$12,710
$57,154 vs $44,444/yr
Portsmouth
Violent Crime
27% lower
752.4 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Portsmouth
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
6.6% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Median Home Value
$102k less
$111,200 vs $213,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portsmouth, VA | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,300 | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,225 | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,154 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portsmouth City Public Schools | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 47.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,384 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 17 of 23 categories. Portsmouth wins 17 and Trenton wins 6. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,300 vs $111,200 median home), income ($57,154 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portsmouth, VA and Trenton, NJ are about 248 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.