City Comparison
Leesburg vs Petersburg
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Leesburg scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Leesburg
Petersburg
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Petersburg is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
28% lower than in Leesburg.
Housing costs are a major driver: Leesburg's average rent is
139% higher than Petersburg's.
| Metric | Leesburg | Petersburg | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,800 | $1,174 | +139% |
| Groceries | $450 | $320 | +41% |
| Utilities | $180 | $336 | -46% |
| Transport | $150 | $640 | -77% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $290 | -14% |
| Monthly Total | $3,830 | $2,760 | +39% |
| Cost Index | 128 | 80 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Leesburg offers 42% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Petersburg delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Leesburg is estimated at
$75,000 vs $33,300 in Petersburg.
| Metric | Leesburg | Petersburg |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $92,000 | $65,000 |
| Salary Needed | $75,000 | $33,300 |
| Purchasing Power | 71,875 idx | 81,250 idx |
| Household Income | $145,205 | $50,698 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 3.5°F of each other.
For sunshine, Petersburg comes out ahead with 12 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Petersburg sees 0.5 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Leesburg | Petersburg |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 56.40°F | 59.90°F |
| Summer High | 85.00°F | 86.30°F |
| Winter Low | 25.90°F | 30.40°F |
| Rainfall | 43.40 in | 46.40 in |
| Snowfall | 15.00 in | 15.50 in |
| Sunny Days | 238 | 250 |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
Leesburg scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Leesburg leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Leesburg | Petersburg |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 45.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 62.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 50.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Leesburg is the larger city
— approximately 1.5x the population of Petersburg.
From a growth perspective, Leesburg is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Leesburg has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Leesburg | Petersburg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 49,171 | 33,892 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.90% | 0.47% |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 35.8 |
| Unemployment | 3.30% | 5.00% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Leesburg
Advantages
Median household income is exceptionally high at $145,205 per U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts.
Crime rates are well below national averages, providing an exceptionally safe community environment.
Over 57% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher, fostering a highly educated and skilled local populace.
Vibrant, historic downtown core featuring award-winning dining, craft breweries, and boutique shopping.
Abundant recreational access, including direct connection to the 45-mile W&OD Trail and nearby Loudoun wine country.
Drawbacks
Cost of living and housing expenses are substantially higher than the U.S. national average.
Average rent prices exceed $2,750 per month, placing a heavy burden on renters.
Median home purchase values hover around $667,800, making first-time home buying challenging.
Heavy reliance on automobiles for daily commuting and errands can lead to localized peak-hour congestion on major arteries like Route 7.
High property values drive up overall property tax and housing costs across the municipality.
Petersburg
Advantages
Petersburg offers a significantly affordable cost of living, with a cost of living index of 80.2 in 2025, making it more affordable than the national average.
Housing expenses in Petersburg are approximately 45% lower than the national average, presenting a strong advantage for residents.
The city benefits from a strategic location at the intersection of major interstates I-85 and I-95, providing excellent regional connectivity.
Petersburg is developing an Advanced Manufacturing Pharmaceutical cluster, indicating growth in specific business sectors.
Petersburg Area Transit (PAT) currently offers fare-free bus service, enhancing accessibility for residents.
Drawbacks
Petersburg has high crime rates, ranking as the 8th most dangerous city in Virginia with violent crime rates 120.1% higher than the national average in 2025.
The city faces persistent financial instability, with a Medium article in March 2025 highlighting renewed challenges and a risk of municipal bankruptcy.
The median household income of $50,698 in 2024 is considerably lower than both the state and national averages.
Limited job opportunities outside specific sectors and a high poverty rate (21.7% in 2024) pose economic challenges for residents.
Schools in Petersburg are noted to be in need of improvement, impacting educational quality.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Leesburg
#244Virginia, USA
62.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,800
Avg Salary
$92,000
Cost Index
128
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
45.0/100
Walkability
62.0/100
Sunny Days
238/yr
Avg Temp
56.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
3.30%
Livability
84
Business
78
Petersburg
#486Virginia, USA
53.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,174
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
80
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
30.0/100
Sunny Days
250/yr
Avg Temp
59.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.47%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
50
Business
60
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