Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Suffolk, VA
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Suffolk leads 18 of 23 categories
Suffolk
Virginia
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $43,314 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (6.3%)
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 40°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($111,200 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $199/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,376)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $43,314/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 6.3%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Suffolk
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$43,314
$87,758 vs $44,444/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
64% lower
371.0 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Suffolk
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
6.3% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Median Home Value
$203k less
$111,200 vs $314,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Suffolk, VA | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $314,400⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,376⚠ High | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,758 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Suffolk City Public Schools | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 47.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.8" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,856 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 38.5 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.4% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Suffolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 18 of 23 categories. Suffolk wins 18 and Trenton wins 5. 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 Suffolk to Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,400 vs $111,200 median home), income ($87,758 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Suffolk, VA and Trenton, NJ are about 264 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.