Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 17 of 22 categories
Richmond
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $310k less ($314,400 vs $624,800)
60% less violent crime than Richmond
Rent averages $477/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,853)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.3%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$1,140
$87,758 vs $86,618/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
60% lower
371.0 vs 923.1 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$310k less
$314,400 vs $624,800
Suffolk
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Suffolk
Summer Heat
16.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 17 of 22 categories. Richmond wins 5 and Suffolk wins 17. 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 Richmond to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $314,400 median home), income ($86,618 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and Suffolk, VA are about 2,488 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.