Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
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.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($162,000 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $459/mo less ($917 vs $1,376)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Suffolk
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $36,235/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $36,235 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Roanoke
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Roanoke
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$152k less
$162,000 vs $314,400
Suffolk
Median Income
$36,235
$87,758 vs $51,523/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
40% lower
371.0 vs 620.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories. Roanoke wins 11 and Suffolk wins 12. 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 Roanoke to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $314,400 median home), income ($51,523 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Suffolk, VA are about 188 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.