Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Jose, CA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 13 of 23 categories
San Jose
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ 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 Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,252 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $835k less ($314,400 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1150/mo less ($1,376 vs $2,526)
39% less violent crime than San Jose
16% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $48,252/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Jose
Median Income
$48,252
$136,010 vs $87,758/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Violent Crime
39% lower
371.0 vs 606.8 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$835k less
$314,400 vs $1,149,600
Suffolk
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Jose, CA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,149,600⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,526⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,010 ✓ Higher | $87,758 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 85.5% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Jose Unified | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.8" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Jose's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 13 of 23 categories. San Jose 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 Jose to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,149,600 vs $314,400 median home), income ($136,010 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Jose, CA and Suffolk, VA are about 2,469 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.