Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Diego, CA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 13 of 23 categories
San Diego
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
1,383,987 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758
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.
San Diego, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Households earn $10,899 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $783,300
Higher rents — median is $2,080/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Suffolk
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $469k less ($314,400 vs $783,300)
Rent averages $704/mo less ($1,376 vs $2,080)
10% less violent crime than San Diego
14% cheaper overall cost of living than San Diego
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Diego by $10,899/yr
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
San Diego
Median Income
$10,899
$98,657 vs $87,758/yr
Suffolk
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Violent Crime
10% lower
371.0 vs 412.2 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$469k less
$314,400 vs $783,300
Suffolk
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 79.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Diego, CA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $783,300⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,080⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,657 ✓ Higher | $87,758 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Diego Unified | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 79.8°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,383,987 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Diego's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 13 of 23 categories. San Diego wins 10 and Suffolk wins 13. 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 San Diego to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($783,300 vs $314,400 median home), income ($98,657 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Diego, CA and Suffolk, VA are about 2,298 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.