Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Suffolk, VA
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Suffolk leads 16 of 23 categories
Suffolk
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $463k less ($314,400 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $601/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,977)
15% less violent crime than Westminster
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.3%)
Households earn $7,487 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Westminster, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Suffolk
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$7,487
$87,758 vs $80,271/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
15% lower
371.0 vs 436.2 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$463k less
$314,400 vs $777,100
Suffolk
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Suffolk
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Suffolk, VA | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,758 ✓ Higher | $80,271 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Suffolk City Public Schools | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,856 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 38.5 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.4% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Suffolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 16 of 23 categories. Suffolk wins 16 and Westminster wins 7. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,400 vs $777,100 median home), income ($87,758 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Suffolk, VA and Westminster, CA are about 2,325 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.