Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Suffolk, VA
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Suffolk
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
Vista
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
98,392 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $309k less ($314,400 vs $622,900)
Rent averages $626/mo less ($1,376 vs $2,002)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Vista
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Vista, CA
Pros
15% less violent crime than Suffolk
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Suffolk
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$309k less
$314,400 vs $622,900
Suffolk
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 78.9°F
Vista
Median Income
$957
$88,715 vs $87,758/yr
Vista
Violent Crime
15% lower
316.4 vs 371.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Suffolk, VA | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,758 | $88,715 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 27.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 11.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Suffolk City Public Schools | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,856 | 98,392 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.5 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.4% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Suffolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Suffolk wins 11 and Vista 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,400 vs $622,900 median home), income ($87,758 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Suffolk, VA and Vista, CA are about 2,295 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.