Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sacramento, CA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 14 of 22 categories
Sacramento
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
14
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.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Suffolk, VA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Sacramento
Homes cost $136k less ($314,400 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $216/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,592)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Households earn $8,804 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Sacramento
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$8,804
$87,758 vs $78,954/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
51% lower
371.0 vs 754.9 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$136k less
$314,400 vs $450,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $450,500⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,954 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sacramento City Unified | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 523,600 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramento's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 14 of 22 categories. Sacramento wins 8 and Suffolk 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 Sacramento to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($450,500 vs $314,400 median home), income ($78,954 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sacramento, CA and Suffolk, VA are about 2,432 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.