Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. Paul, MN
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 13 of 23 categories
St. Paul
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
13
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.
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $50k less ($264,900 vs $314,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $202/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,376)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Suffolk by $17,839/yr
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
40% less violent crime than St. Paul
Households earn $17,839 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 24°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.0%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$50k less
$264,900 vs $314,400
St. Paul
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$17,839
$87,758 vs $69,919/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
40% lower
371.0 vs 617.7 per 100k
Suffolk
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 82.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. Paul, MN | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $264,900 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,919 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.4% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 152⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ 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+ (104) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.8% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saint Paul Public Schools | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 23.9°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.6°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 29.2" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,806 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.0% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Paul's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 13 of 23 categories. St. Paul 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 St. Paul to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($264,900 vs $314,400 median home), income ($69,919 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. Paul, MN and Suffolk, VA are about 1,030 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.