Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, MA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 16 of 23 categories
Springfield
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
16
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.
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $116k less ($198,500 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $329/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,376)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $40,081/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 6.3%)
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $40,081 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.3%)
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 35°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
Springfield
Median Home Value
$116k less
$198,500 vs $314,400
Suffolk
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$40,081
$87,758 vs $47,677/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
58% lower
371.0 vs 891.4 per 100k
Suffolk
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, MA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $198,500 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,047 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,677 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.7%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 195⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 235⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.8°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.9°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,305 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 16 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 7 and Suffolk wins 16. 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 Springfield to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,500 vs $314,400 median home), income ($47,677 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, MA and Suffolk, VA are about 433 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.