Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portsmouth, VA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach leads 14 of 23 categories
Portsmouth
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
West Palm Beach
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $112k less ($213,300 vs $324,800)
Rent averages $389/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,614)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $6,890/yr
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
23% less violent crime than Portsmouth
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 49°F
Households earn $6,890 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Portsmouth
Key Differences at a Glance
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$112k less
$213,300 vs $324,800
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$6,890
$64,044 vs $57,154/yr
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
23% lower
575.8 vs 752.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portsmouth, VA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,300 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,225 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,154 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 192⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portsmouth City Public Schools | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,384 | 117,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97.4 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 14 of 23 categories. Portsmouth wins 9 and West Palm Beach wins 14. 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,300 vs $324,800 median home), income ($57,154 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portsmouth, VA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 733 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.