Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Suffolk, VA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories
Suffolk
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
West Palm Beach
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Suffolk, VA
Pros
36% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Households earn $23,714 more per year on average
Rent averages $238/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,614)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 49°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $23,714/yr
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Suffolk
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$23,714
$87,758 vs $64,044/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
36% lower
371.0 vs 575.8 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$10k less
$314,400 vs $324,800
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Suffolk, VA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,758 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Suffolk City Public Schools | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,856 | 117,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.5 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.4% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Suffolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories. Suffolk wins 12 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,400 vs $324,800 median home), income ($87,758 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Suffolk, VA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 717 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.