Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. Louis, MO
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 St. Louis leads 12 of 23 categories
St. Louis
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
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.
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $140k less ($174,100 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $438/mo less ($938 vs $1,376)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $34,817/yr
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $34,817 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than St. Louis
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 41°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.4%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
St. Louis
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$140k less
$174,100 vs $314,400
St. Louis
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Median Income
$34,817
$87,758 vs $52,941/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
73% lower
371.0 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. Louis, MO | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $174,100 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $938 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,941 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 325⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 360⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 272⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.6% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ST. LOUIS CITY | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 298,018 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Louis's cost of living index is 96.3 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
St. Louis is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 12 of 23 categories. St. Louis wins 12 and Suffolk wins 11. 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 St. Louis to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($174,100 vs $314,400 median home), income ($52,941 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. Louis, MO and Suffolk, VA are about 756 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.