Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Suffolk, VA
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories
Suffolk
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Tyler
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
106,440 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $24,702 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.3%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $109k less ($205,200 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $263/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,376)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 49°F
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $24,702/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Median Income
$24,702
$87,758 vs $63,056/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
5% lower
371.0 vs 391.2 per 100k
Tyler
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Median Home Value
$109k less
$205,200 vs $314,400
Tyler
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.3% unemployment
Tyler
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Suffolk, VA | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,400⚠ High | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,376⚠ High | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,758 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Suffolk City Public Schools | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 47.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.8" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,856 | 106,440 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.5 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.4% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Suffolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories. Suffolk wins 12 and Tyler 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 Suffolk to Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,400 vs $205,200 median home), income ($87,758 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Suffolk, VA and Tyler, TX are about 1,103 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.