Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Suffolk, VA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Suffolk leads 14 of 23 categories
Suffolk
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Washington
District of Columbia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $391k less ($314,400 vs $705,000)
60% less violent crime than Washington
Rent averages $441/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,817)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.3%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $13,964/yr
Washington, DC
Pros
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $13,964 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Violent Crime
60% lower
371.0 vs 925.9 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$391k less
$314,400 vs $705,000
Suffolk
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$13,964
$101,722 vs $87,758/yr
Washington
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Suffolk, VA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,758 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Suffolk City Public Schools | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 45.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.8" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,856 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.5 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.4% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Suffolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 14 of 23 categories. Suffolk wins 14 and Washington wins 9. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,400 vs $705,000 median home), income ($87,758 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Suffolk, VA and Washington, DC are about 154 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.