Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portsmouth, VA
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 15 of 22 categories
Portsmouth
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 107°F
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
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Pros
44% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Rent averages $197/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,225)
Homes cost $27k less ($186,500 vs $213,300)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 49°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Portsmouth
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Income
$2,158
$59,312 vs $57,154/yr
Yuma
Violent Crime
44% lower
423.6 vs 752.4 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$27k less
$186,500 vs $213,300
Yuma
Summer Heat
18.7°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portsmouth, VA | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,300 | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,225 | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,154 | $59,312 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 192⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portsmouth City Public Schools | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,384 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yuma leads 15 of 22 categories. Portsmouth wins 7 and Yuma wins 15. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,300 vs $186,500 median home), income ($57,154 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portsmouth, VA and Yuma, AZ are about 2,174 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.