Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salem, OR
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 15 of 23 categories
Salem
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ 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.
Salem, OR
Pros
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $152/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,376)
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Suffolk by $20,218/yr
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Suffolk, VA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Salem
Households earn $20,218 more per year on average
Homes cost $35k less ($314,400 vs $349,500)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$20,218
$87,758 vs $67,540/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
30% lower
371.0 vs 532.2 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$35k less
$314,400 vs $349,500
Suffolk
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 83.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salem, OR | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $349,500⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,224 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,540 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.3% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 137⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 133⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.6:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.5°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.1" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 175,754 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salem's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 15 of 23 categories. Salem 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 Salem to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($349,500 vs $314,400 median home), income ($67,540 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salem, OR and Suffolk, VA are about 2,456 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.