Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Suffolk, VA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 12 of 23 categories
Suffolk
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
249,571 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $33,342 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $127k less ($187,400 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $420/mo less ($956 vs $1,376)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Suffolk
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $33,342/yr
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Median Income
$33,342
$87,758 vs $54,416/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
54% lower
371.0 vs 809.7 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$127k less
$187,400 vs $314,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Suffolk, VA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,400⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,376⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,758 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Suffolk City Public Schools | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.8" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,856 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.5 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.4% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Suffolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 12 of 23 categories. Suffolk wins 11 and Winston-Salem wins 12. 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 Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,400 vs $187,400 median home), income ($87,758 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Suffolk, VA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 206 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.