Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 15 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
15
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.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($111,400 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $381/mo less ($995 vs $1,376)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $43,602/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 6.3%)
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $43,602 more per year on average
36% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Median Home Value
$203k less
$111,400 vs $314,400
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.7 on the COL index
Suffolk
Median Income
$43,602
$87,758 vs $44,156/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
36% lower
371.0 vs 582.3 per 100k
Suffolk
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.5% unemployment
Suffolk
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 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 | 155⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 15 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 8 and Suffolk 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 Rochester to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $314,400 median home), income ($44,156 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Suffolk, VA are about 450 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.