Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Suffolk, VA
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 14 of 22 categories
Suffolk
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
Virginia Beach
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,544
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Rent averages $192/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,568)
Homes cost $29k less ($314,400 vs $343,700)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.3%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
75% less violent crime than Suffolk
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$29k less
$314,400 vs $343,700
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.4 on the COL index
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
75% lower
92.3 vs 371.0 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Suffolk, VA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,758 ✓ Higher | $87,544 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Suffolk City Public Schools | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.8" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,856 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.5 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.4% ✓ Higher | 64.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Suffolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 14 of 22 categories. Suffolk wins 8 and Virginia Beach wins 14. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,400 vs $343,700 median home), income ($87,758 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Suffolk, VA and Virginia Beach, VA are about 34 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.