Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Suffolk, VA
VS
Yonkers, NY
🏆 Suffolk leads 13 of 22 categories
Suffolk
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
Yonkers
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,208
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
209,780 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($314,400 vs $456,500)
Rent averages $283/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,659)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Yonkers
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $9,550 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 40°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Yonkers, NY
Pros
16% less violent crime than Suffolk
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,500
Higher rents — median is $1,659/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Suffolk
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$9,550
$87,758 vs $78,208/yr
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$142k less
$314,400 vs $456,500
Yonkers
Violent Crime
16% lower
311.8 vs 371.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Suffolk, VA | Yonkers, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,659⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,758 ✓ Higher | $78,208 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 34.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Suffolk City Public Schools | YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 51.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.8" ✓ Less | 32.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,856 | 209,780 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.5 | 39.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.4% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Suffolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Yonkers's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 13 of 22 categories. Suffolk wins 13 and Yonkers 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 Yonkers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,400 vs $456,500 median home), income ($87,758 vs $78,208), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Suffolk, VA and Yonkers, NY are about 329 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.